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Porsica Walker
Porsica
benderi Schintlmeister
Porsica
benderi Schintlmeister
1981, Atalanta 12: 291.
Porsica
ingens Walker;
sensu Holloway 1976: 55.
Diagnosis. The dark trapezoid marks on the forewing costa are darker than in the
next species and the reniform (a pale disc with a central brown crescent and a
larger brown spot 2 mm distad) more prominent. The forewing ground colour is
paler.
Geographical range. Sumatra, Borneo.
Habitat preference. Few specimens have been taken, from lowland
dipterocarp forest, kerangas, and secondary vegetation. One specimen was taken
in lower montane forest at 1000 m on G. Mulu.
Biology. Nothing is known of the life history of benderi but Bell (MS)
described that of P. ferreopicta Hampson, possibly the sister
species (India) of benderi The larva is typical of the Gargetta group
in shape: the body is broadest centrally, tapering distally; the first pair of
prolegs are reduced; the stematopods are one third of the length of the body.
The head, dirty white with a brown band, is squarish, higher than broad,
laterally compressed below the vertex, distinctly bilobed. The body is leathery,
polished, light greyish brown, with a narrow bluish white dorsal band that is
flanked closely by rose-pink lines; there are three supraspiracular lines and
one subspiracular line of the same colour; there are bronzy tubercles set with
three to five short black hairs and one long one; the spiracles are brownish
yellow with black rims. A variant was medium brown with a dorsal grey band and
broader single dorsolateral and lateral pale bands centred brownish, and a brown
spiracular band that extends ventrally in places.
The larvae feed on the undersides of leaves, resting camouflaged on thin
twigs, tails held erect. They pupate in a loose cell of silk and earth on the
surface of the soil. The adults rest with wings scrolled around the body.
The host-plant is Antidesma (Stilaginaceae).
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