Bastilla amygdalis Moore

Dysgonia amygdalis Moore, [1885] 1884-1887: 551. *

Parallelia amygdalis* Moore; Kobes, 1985: 93.

Diagnosis

This and the next species are similar to the previous few but can be distinguished by their having an angle in the distal edge of the costal trapezoidal mark; this is more acute in arcuata Moore. The two are best distinguished from each other by the forewing antemedial: straight in amygdalis, with ground colour uniform across it; sinuous in arcuata with the ground colour darker basal to it.

Geographical range

Indian Subregion, Taiwan, Thailand (VK), Sumatra, Borneo.

Habitat preference

All four records in recent surveys have been from forest at 250m or below in the Mulu area and in Brunei.

Biology

Bell (MS) described the larva as ophiusine in shape, the prolegs of A3 cylindrical and small, those of A4 also slightly reduced. There are prominent conical tubercles on A8, black with basal yellow spots (pink and yellow in one example). The head is pale yellow, marbled with orange lines, and with a broad black area centrally. The body is darkish grey with numerous thin, irregular whitish lines longitudinally (though Gardner (1947) referred to dorsal lines of dark speckling on a pale ground), with cross-lines giving a reticulate pattern. On A1 there is a black ellipse laterally with associated red and white spots. The spiracular region is suffused light yellow-green, and the ventral surface is greenish black.

The pupa is typical of the genus, with a powdery white bloom.

The host plant is Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae).