Samia tetrica Rebel
Philosamia cynthia tetrica Rebel, 1923, Verh. zool. -bot. Ges. Wien, 73: 109.
Philosamia cynthia borneensis Rebel, 1925, Annls naturh. Mus. Wien, 39: 168, syn. n. **
Samia borneensis Rebel; Allen, 1981: 111; Holloway, 1982: 192; Lampe, 1985: 8.
Diagnosis
This is much smaller species than the previous two, a dark greenish grey-brown, the fasciae straight with grey rays distad, and the ocellar markings lunular rather than triangular, transparent.
Taxonomic Notes
This taxon flies with S. cynthia in Peninsular Malaysia and was therefore accorded specific status by Holloway (1982). W.A. Nassig has drawn the author’s attention to the older name, tetrica Rebel from Singapore, illustrated subsequently by Rebel (1925, loc. cit.). This taxon falls within Rebel’s insularis Vollenhoven group that embraces all taxa from Sundaland eastwards, all somewhat greenish brown with relatively straight fasciae.
Nassig (pers. comm.) has indicated that Sumatran Samia are distinct from the two in Peninsular Malaysia (one of which is true cynthia). Specimens from the Philippines (luzonica Watson, mindanaensis Rebel) and Sulawesi (vandenberghi Watson) have the fasciae somewhat broader, with (luzonica examined only) minor differences in the male genitalia (broader, less excavated apical portion of the valve, more angular saccular zone). These taxa might prove best grouped together under luzonica, the oldest name, and may prove to bear a sister relationship to tetrica. The relationship of tetrica to the Javan insularis also needs investigation.
Geographical range
Borneo.
Peninsular Malaysia.
Habitat preference
Most specimens have been recorded from lowland forest, though one was taken at 1618m on Bukit Retak, Brunei and at a similar altitude on G. Mulu, Sarawak.
Biology
A mature larva was found by the author in the G. Mulu National Park.
It pupated before a full examination could be made.
In general coloration it was very different from that of cynthia, brownish with yellowish tubercles.
Semper (1896-1902) illustrated the larva of luzonica (as ricini Boisduval) as bluish grey with yellowish tubercles, prolegs, anal clasper, head and prothoracic dorsum.
Genitalia:
