Serrodes discolor Fabricius

Noctua discolor Fabricius, 1794, Ent. Syst. III, 2: 50.

Avatha includens Walker, 1857, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 13: 1107.

Diagnosis

The species is variable, but the black areas are reduced to small triangles as illustrated or are absent. The hindwings are almost uniform, with only faintly diffuse paler banding, no distinct marks at the tornal angle. In the male genitalia the uncus is tapering rather than spurred.

Taxonomic note

A. minima Swinhoe (Philippines), based on a single female, is probably also a synonym of discolor.

Geographical range

Indo-Australian and Pacific tropics to as far east as Henderson I.

Habitat preference

The only three specimens taken in recent surveys have been from 1780m on G. Mulu. There is an older specimen without altitude data from G. Kinabalu.

Biology

The larva of this species may be one of those described by Bell (MS) for noctuoides as discussed below. The host plants recorded for discolor by Robinson et al. (2001) are from different sources: Nephelium, Sapindus (Sapindaceae); Callicarpa (Verbenaceae). Semper (1896-1902) recorded the larva from Callicarpa.

Genitalia: