Nygmia javana Aurivillius comb. n.

Euproctis varia javana Aurivillius, 1894, Ent. Tidskr. 15(2): 174.

Diagnosis

Males of this and the next two species can only be distinguished reliably by their genitalia. The complex was reviewed by Holloway (1982b), with some caution over assignation of males to epirotica Collenette, based on a female. Only rearing of both sexes from a single mother will establish such associations reliably. The situation in javana is complicated by the occurrence of two forms of both sexes in the type locality, but not elsewhere in Sundaland. It is further complicated by discovery of a second species in Borneo and Sumatra, described next. Both javana and the new species have short ventral processes on the valve, whereas this is as long as the dorsal one in epirotica: there are also differences in the saccus and vesica. In the female, epirotica has a squarer, broader vaginal plate, a longer bursa and a more prominent signum.

Geographical Range

Sundaland.

Habitat Preference

Only a single javana male has definitely been identified for Borneo, from Samarinda in the lowlands of south-east Kalimantan.

Biology

Kalshoven (1981) described the larva (as varia/oreosaura) as short, stout, dirty brown, with paired tufts on A1 and A2. The setae are urticating. The larvae are gregarious. Pupation is in a greyish brown cocoon. The host-plant was the non-native Cinchona (Rubiaceae).

Genitalia: