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Elusa
Walker
Type
species: ceneusalis Walker
Synonyms: Alimala
Walker (type species limacodoides Walker = ceneusalis); Penza
Walker (type species puncticeps
Walker); Seria
Walker (type species cyathicornis
Walker); Lugana
Moore
(type species antennata
Moore, N.E. Himalaya
(discussed
under ceneusalis
below); Desana
Swinhoe
(type species peninsulata
Walker,
Mysol
I.).
This genus embraces
a small group of taxa from the Indo-Australian tropics. It is currently placed
within the Hadeninae (Nye, 1975) as it combines trifine hindwing venation with
hairy eyes. However, it exhibits none of the other trifine features mentioned
above except a cucullus-like structure in some taxa, so its correct placement in
the higher classification of the Noctuidae is uncertain.
The labial palps are
usually as long or longer than the head, slender, slightly sinuous, most highly
developed in the type species, and least so in taxa where the male antennae are
simply bipectinate (e.g. puncticeps Walker). In the majority of species
the male antennae appear to have a central node. In the type species the
pectinations over the basal third are short, thick, rectangular, then twisting
and lengthening, becoming slender to give the lenticular central node, then
shortening gradually to taper away over the distal part. The pectinations each
bear an apical spine in the nodal area. Other species with nodal male antennae
show variations on this theme. The female antennae are filiform as are those of
males of simplex.
The basal abdominal
sternite is deep in the male, broadly 'V' or 'U' shaped, the apodemes short, set
well apart, divergent. In ceneusalis the sclerite is posteriorly square,
the angles sometimes developed into slight lobes (E. antennata). The
eighth tergite in the male is small, weak, triangular sclerite, the sternite
with coremata just distal to a sclerotised bar representing its basal margin.
This bar sometimes extends posteriorly along the lateral margin of the sternite,
and from this margin may arise lateral rods (e.g. cyathicornis). The
tergite is also most sclerotised along the basal margin. The coremata on the
sternite are most highly developed in the type species and allies.
In the male
genitalia the uncus is often strongly modified with socius like structures. The
peniculus is weak, overlapped exteriorly by a simple plate from the vinculum.
The juxta is usually a simple plate, flanked by unusual strap-like sclerites
that appear to arise from the transtilla. The valves have the exterior of the
sacculus corematous to a greater or lesser degree, and a strong but simple
saccular harpe. The apex of the valve is often setose, the setae directed
dorso-basad, but without a marginal coronal row of setae. In a New Guinea
species complex (including pratti Bethune Baker and affinis Rothschild)
the valve apex is developed into a cucullus but homology with the typical
trifine cucullus cannot be assumed. The aedeagus vesica is usually globular,
with weak, generally distributed scobination.
In the female
genitalia the ovipositor lobes are distinctively shaped, with the dorsal angle
strongly produced. The ductus bursae is long, slender, the bursa ovoid, set
asymmetrically on it, with general scobination but no definite signum; the
ductus seminalis arises from a small lateral lobe of the bursa.
The forewing facies
is usually a uniform brown or reddish brown with obscure punctate fasciae and
perhaps a pale, straight submarginal. The reniform stigma within most species
shows dimorphism, being either obscure or a bilobed white patch.
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