Nygmia atereta Collenette comb. n.

Euproctis atereta Collenette, 1932, Novit. zool., 38: 58.

Diagnosis

The facies is much as in some Somena or Orvasca species (See Orvasca Walker Gen. rev), but the body is more robust. Identity of this and the next species is bestconfirmed from the genitalia, which are strikingly different from those of the other two genera as illustrated.

Taxonomic note

The male genitalia of this species, the next and N. mignon Schintlmeister comb. n. (Sumatra) and an undescribed species from Java (slide 2657) all have very similar structure, particularly the pair of slender rods arising from between the valve bases and the juxta.

Geographical range

Sundaland.

Habitat preference

The species has been recorded from both lowland and lower montane (to 1000m) forest zones; during the Mulu survey it was somewhat more frequent on the limestone G. Api.

Biology

Chey (1994: 281) identified a reared specimen as limbata Butler (See Orvasca subnotata)that may be the female of atereta. The larva is also illustrated by Chey and is blackish with a broad dorsal yellow stripe divided by a central red line. This stripe is faint over the thoracic segments. The black secondary setae arise from black verrucae that are speckled white. The dorsal line is broken by paired verrucae on the first, second and eighth abdominal segments, but these are absent from other segments.

The host-plant was Paraserianthes falcataria (Leguminosae).

Genitalia: