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Ophthalmitis
clararia Walker
Ophthalmodes clararia Walker,
1866, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 25: 1594.
Ophthalmodes fasciata Warren,
1900, Novit. zool., 7:114, syn. n.
Diagnosis. There is
extensive greyish black suffusion to the wings, particularly in association with
the fasciae and between the submarginal and margin on both wings.
Taxonomic notes. This is the sister-species of the Indian O. herbidaria Guenée,
the type species. The species have similar fasciation but herbidaria is
much less heavily suffused greyish black (this is variable). The male genitalia
share an elongate flange running just interior from the ventral margin of the
valve that links with a reversed, oblique flap running towards the costa and
terminating acutely: the flange is deeper in herbidaria, the oblique
structure longer. O. clararia has lateral triangular processes at the
uncus apex in addition to the more basal 'horns'. In the female, the sterigma of clararia
is more complex, with a strongly sclerotised central boss; this is weak in herbidaria,
with an elongate transverse band of sclerotisation across the mouth of the
ostium just anterior to it. O. fasciata represents a more heavily
suffused form; the holotype female has genitalia as in that of clararia.
Geographical
range. Sundaland,
Philippines.
Habitat
preference. Recent
material is from lowland rain forest with some indication of greater abundance
in forest on limestone.
Biology.
Bell (MS)
reared herbidaria in India from Diospyros (Ebenaceae). Singh (1953)
noted Casearia (Flacourtiaceae) as a host-plant.
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