|
Common (1970) included members of this family in subfamily Cossinae of
the Cossidae, but the family is treated as separate in Fletcher & Nye (1982)
and by Minet (1983) who redefined the family.
It is monobasic, the genus Dudgeonea Hampson being known from
Africa, Madagascar, India, New Guinea and Australia. It has general cossoid
venation but differs from most members of the superfamily in having tympanal
organs (Fig. 47) at the base of the abdomen. ‘Prototympanal’ organs, not
necessarily homologous, are seen in the genera Chilecomadia Dyar (Chile),
Rhizocossus Clench (Chile) and Pseudocossus Kenrick (Madagascar)
which are placed in a subfamily of the Cossidae, Pseudocossinae, by Heppner
(l984b).
The forewing pattern is always reddish brown with silvery spots. As with
the other cossoid families discussed here, the larva is said to tunnel in trees
(Common 1970).
The Oriental species, D. leucosticta Hampson, is known from the
N.E. Himalaya, Sri Lanka and Peninsular Malaysia. The record for the last
locality is a specimen (above) taken recently by Mr H.S. Barlow, so the family
may await discovery in Borneo. The male genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 52.
<<Return
to Contents page
|
