Miscellaneous Genera VI
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Anticarsia irrorata Fabricius 
Noctua irrorata Fabricius, 1781, Species Insectorum Appendix, 2: 506.
Noctua sordida Fabricius, 1794, Species Insectorum III, 2: 50, praeocc.
Apistis jocosa Hübner, [1823] 1816, Verz. bek. Schmett., p 271.
Ophiusa rubricans Boisduval, 1833, Faune ent. Madag., Bourbon & Maurice, Lep., p. 106
Thermesia transducta Walker, 1865, List Specimens lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus., 33: 1058.
Thermesia consueta Walker, 1869, Char. undescr. Lep. Het., p 93.

 


Anticarsia irrorata


Diagnosis
. The facies is more similar to that of Hypospila and Tochara species, but the forewings are deeper with a slightly falcate apex and a subcostal angle to the postmedial; the reniform is considerably enlarged. See also the generic description.

Taxonomic note. Though similar in facies to the type species (and also in pest status and legume specialism), the male genitalia of irrorata are not close in structure. The uncus and tegumen are longer, slender rather than robust. The valves are longer, shaped somewhat like a parallelogram rather than ovate, and lack the slightly angled setose ridge in the centre of the valve. However, the female does indicate a relationship with gemmatalis, sharing the longitudinal band of sclerotisation in the ductus and base of the bursa (though much smaller) and a similar signum though again smaller, consisting of two small, slightly separated patches of scobination. Therefore placement of irrorata in Anticarsia is probably correct but means further investigation. It is the type species of Azazia, but the pantropical complex of species included in Anticarsia by Poole (1989) requires revision before a more satisfactory generic classification is possible.

Geographical range. Old World tropics east to Queensland, the Marquesas and Rapa I.

Habitat preference. Only a short series from Tenom in the lowlands of Sabah and an old specimen without precise data from G. Marapok have been seen. The species is a well known pest of leguminous crops.

Biology. Bell (MS) reared the species in India (see also Moore (1884-1887) and Gardner (1948a)). The larva is cylindrical with all prolegs present, those of A3 and A4 perhaps very slightly thinner but of full length. The head and body are pale grass-green, the former marked laterally with darker green. There is a yellowish-green-centred, darker green dorsal line, and broader greyish green subdorsal lines on each side of it. The latter incorporates the green spots that enclose the white chalazae of the subdorsal setae. Below this is a darker green band and a further grey-marbled band of ground colour. The spiracles are white with black rims, set within a dull orange band that extends onto the anal prolegs.

The larva lives beneath leaves of the host plant fully stretched, and has a strong looping motion despite the full set of prolegs. The species is characteristic of open country and cultivation in S. India and can be a pest of cultivated legumes throughout its range.

Robinson
et al. (2001) noted records from Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae), and Andropogon, Oryza, Paspalum and Saccharum (Gramineae), but also a preponderance of records from Leguminosae: Cajanus, Cicer, Cyamopsis, Glycine, Lablab, Mucuna, Phaseolus and Vigna.

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