Dyrzela plagiata Walker

Dyrzela plagiata Walker, 1858, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln. Br. Mus., 15: 1758.

Oglasa costipannosa Swinhoe, 1890, Trans. ent. Soc. Lond., 1890: 266.

Oglasa costiplaga Swinhoe, 1891, Ibid., 1891: 153.

Dyrzela plagiata perampla Warren, 1913, Gross-Schmett. Erde, 11: 177.

Dyrzela plagiata Walker; Holloway, 1976: 14.

Diagnosis

The forewings are leaden grey, the subapical costal brown patch larger than in any other species, longer over the costa except in the next species. In D. tumidimacula Warren the patch is also large but more square than triangular, with the forewing ground colour brownish.

Biology

The semi-looper larva (see generic description) is thin, yellowish green with broad dorsolateral white lines, a dorsal, yellow pulsating line, and two yellow ones laterally (Bell MS). There are primary setae only. The young larvae live on the underside of leaves, moving like leeches. Mature larvae are found in a similar position, eating young foliage. On alarm they drop and wriggle on silken threads. They pupate near the surface of the soil in a soft, loose, silken cell incorporating earth particles. The host-plant is Grewia (Tiliaceae).

Genitalia: