Eugnathia pictipennis Hampson comb. n.

Zethes pictipennis Hampson, 1895, Fauna Brit. India, Moths, 3: 10.

Diagnosis

The facies is generally as in other members of the genus, but the forewing costal band and its continuation through the hindwing and thorax is a medium, variegated, pinkish brown colour with more rufous components. The remaining areas of the wings are variegated dark brown, black and white as illustrated, the centre of the hindwing being broadly more white with brownish suffusion within which is an oblique dark discal mark.

Taxonomic note

Poole (1989) transferred this species to Pangrapta Hübner, but it is currently placed in Lophoruza in the BMNH curation, and in Eugnathia in the card index. The last option is regarded here as correct. The male genitalia have an unusual subapical lobe on the dorsal margin of the cucullus.

Geographical range

S. India, Borneo, Sulawesi.

Habitat preference

A single specimen has been recorded from the understorey of primary lowland forest at 170m near the Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah.

Biology

The larva was reared by Bell (MS) in India. It is similar to that of lunifera (see p. 116), but has a pair of processes on A8, and further dorsolateral tubercles on the first three abdominal segments; it tapers to the head anterior to this. The head is chocolate or dull orange suffused with smoky black and is covered with a fine pubescence, as is the body. The body is rusty orange, this suffused with brown over the thoracic segments. The dorsal part of the abdomen with the protuberances has a greyish white bloom. The lateral and spiracular areas from A5 backwards are variegated bright yellow and reddish orange. There are black triangles dorsally anterior to the tubercles of A1 and A2, and a weaker one on A3. These features are variable, particularly with regard to the yellow markings, the colour of the dorsal suffusion and of the processes.

The larva has the typical, highly looped (compared by Bell to a capital omega) posture of the genus when at rest. It pupates on a vertical surface, incorporating particles of detritus into its semi-ovoid cocoon, or incorporates bark particles when the cocoon is formed on a twig.

The host plant recorded was Smilax (Smilacaceae).

Genitalia: