|
Ephemerophila
Warren stat.
rev.
Type species: humeraria Moore, Bengal.
Synonym: Leptodontopera Warren (type species: decorata Moore, N.E Himalaya).
This genus was placed as subgenus of Menophra Moore by Inoue
(1990), but the male genitalic features are as divergent as those of Dasyboarmia
Prout from those of typical Menophra. Ceruncina Wehrli may also merit
full generic status as its valves and processes are similar to those in Dasyboarmia
whereas the vinculum structure is similar to that of Ephemerophila. The
female genitalic structure of Ceruncina is somewhat intermediate between
that of the two other genera. The type species of Menophra, the
Palaearctic abruptaria Thunberg, exhibits a plesiomorphic type of male
genitalia and may have sister-status to the rest of the Menophra complex.
So the alternatives are to place the whole complex (defined by characteristic
facies) under Menophra or treat each of the distinct groupings within it
as distinct genus. The latter course is taken here (see also the next genus).
Ephemerophila is most clearly distinguished by the structure of the valve in the male
genitalia: presence of a digitate process on the costa subbasally bearing two
large, spine-like cornuti; separation of the dorsal part of the valve (as a
narrow to digitate process) from the triangular saccular portion by an obtuse
cleft (only slightly in E. decorata Moore from N.E. India). The saccus is
broadened, often squarish, the aedeagus slender, the vesica bearing from one to
about seven moderate cornuti.
The female genitalia are often characterised by a broad, posteriorly
directed plate at the ostium, sometimes with an irregular margin or bilobed to
broadly bidentate.
Sato (1977, 1984b) has studied larvae of this genus, which, with Ceruncina,
is distinguished from other Menophra complex groups by: lack of a
dorsal ridge on A5; a distinct additional seta present posteroventral from D1
and posterodorsad from SD1 on A2-5; ventral proleg of A6 with only three
external setae; mesoseries of the crochets interrupted centrally.
The larva is slender, tapering slightly to the head over the thoracic
region, coloured an irregularly mottled greyish brown that is darker over the
dorsal half (E. harutai Inoue illustrated by Sugi (1987)).
There is one montane species in Borneo. The genus is richest in the N.E.
Himalaya and well represented in Taiwan.
Host-plants recorded amongst a polyphagous diet (see also Sugi (1987)
and Inoue (1990)) include Prunus (Rosaceae), Quercus (Fagaceae)
and Symplocos (Symplocaceae).
<<Back
>>Forward <<Return
to Contents page
|
