Savara contraria Walker

Savara contraria Walker, 1862, J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 6: 184.

Rusicada diversalis Moore, 1883, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1883: 21.

Diagnosis

The forewing above is a richer, more chestnut red than in the previous species, with a stronger submarginal row of black dots. The subapical markings on the underside are weaker than in the other species. The apex of the valve of the male genitalia is distinctly falcate, and there is a rod-like process associated with the juxta. The aedeagus is very long and has a serrate zone towards the apex that includes a more prominent spine. In the female genitalia, the ostium and an extensive basal zone of the ductus are deeply but narrowly cleft. The bursa has more substantial, broader scobinate bands than in the previous species.

Geographical range

Borneo, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia.

Habitat preference

A single male has been taken in recent surveys at 1618m on Bukit Retak in Brunei, but the original material was collected by A.R. Wallace, probably from the lowlands.

Biology

Robinson et al. (2001) recorded Coffea (Rubiaceae), Heritiera and Sterculia (Sterculiaceae) as host plants for contraria and an unidentified species, but, given the complexity of the taxonomy, these should probably be treated as generic records rather than specific ones.

Genitalia: