Odontodes seranensis Prout stat. n.

Odontodes aleuca seranensis Prout, 1922, Bull. Hill Mus., Witley 1: 205.

Odontodes aleuca subfusca Prout, 1928, Bull. Hill Mus., Witley 2: 164, syn. n.

Odontodes aleuca subfusca Prout; Holloway, 1976: 17, fig. 120; Barlow, 1982: 91.

Diagnosis

The species lacks the darker border and medial bar to the forewing seen in pallidifimbria, and is grey-brown rather than greenish brown.

The underside is relatively uniform brown rather than pale with a darker border as in aleuca Guenée (Indian subregion to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra). It is a variable species, most specimens having uniformly brown forewings that can be marked with a semicircular dark antemedial fascia (as illustrated) or with a pale discal spot.

Other specimens are darker brown with a pale border and tornus.

Taxonomic Notes

The underside difference above, the marked asymmetry of the male genitalia (illustrated by Holloway (1976)), and sympatry in South East Asia indicate that seranensis is a species distinct from aleuca. The male genitalia of aleuca have apically entire, tapering, symmetrical valves with a subbasal dorsal process; the juxta is narrow, twice as long as the triangular juxta of seranensis.

Geographical range

Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines, Ceram, Buru.

Habitat preference

In the Mulu survey the species was found commonly in all habitats from the lowlands to upper montane forest except for wet heath (kerangas) forest.

On G. Kinabalu it was common from 1000-2000m. It was also taken at all altitudes in Brunei except in dry heath forest at Telisai.

Biology

The larva of O.aleuca was described by Gardner (1948a), with details of setation.

The larva is 30mm long at maturity, green with white spots above.

The crochets of the prolegs are heteroideous, but only four or five at the extremities are vestigial.

The host-plant in India is Shorea robusta (Dipterocarpaceae).

Genitalia: