FAMILY SPHINGIDAE
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Marumba Moore

Type species: dyras Walker.

The most conspicuous feature of the genus is in the fasciation of the forewing: there are three transverse fasciae just basal to the discal mark, and three distal to it, the outer two of which double back subtornally to form a double loop containing a dark central spot, based on the dorsum. The forewing apex and the angle of the tornus are usually weakly falcate, and the wing margin is somewhat irregular. The hindwing tornal area usually contains two dark brown patches, again often associated with a slightly looped fascia.

The tongue is very short and weak, the halves separated in some species.

In the male genitalia the uncus is usually weakly bifid, sometimes very broad. The harpe is strongly developed into a sclerotised spur, the valve otherwise rounded, with a subapical process in a few species. The transtillae of the valve each have a strong dorsal spine, and are found centrally so the spines are paired together.

The larva is granulose with a triangular head; the pupa is somewhat glossy, rugate, with two small frontal tubercles (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903).

The majority of species are found in the Oriental tropics and subtropics, extending north into temperate eastern Asia and with one southern European and west Asian species (D'Abrera, 1986: 80). The genus has its easterly limits in the southern Moluccas and Tenimber.

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