Rivula leuconephra Hampson

Rivula leuconephra Hampson, 1926, Descr. Gen. Spec. Noctuinae, p. 254.

Diagnosis

Much smaller than leucosticta, leuconephra has a much less conspicuous antemedial with only two prominent spots. The discal mark consists of two evenly sized spots, and the postmedial is much less evident, though follows a similar irregular course. There are also a few spots of varying size at the margin.

Geographical Range

Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo.

Habitat Preference

Only two specimens have been recorded in recent surveys, in dipterocarp forest at 150m and 500m on the slopes of G. Mulu.

Biology

This species or a very close relative has been reared from larvae found on Hopea and Shorea (Dipterocarpacae) seedlings in primary forest near the Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah (R.J. Morris, pers. comm.). Most specimens have the pale spotting reduced compared to the one illustrated, but the spots are in similar positions. Pupation was in a loose silken cocoon spun within a leaf. The species has also been reared from Mangifera in the Anacardiaceae (Robinson et al., 2001).

Genitalia: