Hamodes propitia Guérin-Méneville 

Ophiusa propitia Guérin-Méneville, 1831, Voy. de la Coquille, 1830-1832: 285.

Ophiusa propitia Boisduval, 1832, in d'Urville, Voyage de D'couvertes de l'Astrolabe, 1: 244.

Hamodes aurantiaca Guenée, 1852, Hist. Nat. Insectes, Spec. gén. Lépid. 7: 203.

Ophisma attacicola Walker, 1858, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 14: 1383.

Hypernaria discistriga Moore, 1867, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1867: 78.

Hamodes marginata Moore, 1882, Descr. new Indian lepid. Insects Colln W.S. Atkinson: 169.

Hamodes propitia Guérin-Méneville; Holloway, 1976: 38.

Diagnosis

There is marked sexual dimorphism with males yellow and females more a yellowish olive-brown. Males have diffuse blackish markings on either side of the postmedials, whereas in females there is more uniform shading. In both sexes the forewings are falcate. See also the next two species.

Taxonomic notes

There are conflicting views on the authorship of propitia; the most recent review (Edwards in Nielsen et al. (1996)) is followed here, but see also Nye (1975), followed by Poole (1989).

Geographical range

N.E. Himalaya, Burma, Thailand (VK), Borneo, Sumatra (HS / ZSM), Philippines east to Queensland, the Carolines (Palau) and the Solomons.

Habitat preference

This is the commonest of the three species, ranging from sea-level to 2110m, found in various forest types including heath forest, and also in cultivated areas.

Biology

The larva was described, under the synonym aurantiaca, by Gardner (1947). The prolegs of A3 are strongly reduced and those of A4 moderately so. The head is greyish black, and the body is grey with black and white speckling. The spiracles are a dirty white with black rims. Pupation is in a folded leaf, and the pupa has a heavy powdery bloom. The host plants were species of Dalbergia (Leguminosae); see also Robinson et al. (2001).

Genitalia: