Susica obscura Holloway

Susica obscura Holloway, 1982 a: 186.

Diagnosis

The male is very dark brown with the markings typical of the genus rather obscure apart from the subbasal white streak on the anal vein. The male abdomen shows modification of both eighth tergite and sternite, and the aedeagus has a lateral spine and scobination of the vesica. The female is paler, larger as illustrated, the forewing rather mottled.

Geographical Range

Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo.

Habitat Preference

The only Bornean specimen known is a male taken at 150m in wet heath forest (kerangas) on a river terrace near the Melinau Gorge, G. Mulu National Park.

Biology

The moth has been reared by Avril Fox (pers. comm.) in Peninsular Malaysia. It is bright green. The four longer posterior dorsolaterals are fawn in later instars. The stinging bristles often prove fatal to the ants which share the host-plant, Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae), as these were found impaled on the bristles of early instars. The larvae feed on both seedlings and mature trees. Pupation was in soil and litter in a typical ovate cocoon. The period from pre-pupation to emergence was seven weeks.

Genitalia: