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Hyperaeschrella Strand
Hyperaeschrella
insulicola Kiriakoff stat. n.
Hyperaeschrella dentata insulicola Kiriakoff,
1967: 60; 1968: 202.
Diagnosis. The forewing patterning is very similar to that of Hexafrenum species
but there is no subtornal pale patch and the subapical one is brown rather than
cream. The male genitalia are very different, the uncus being entire, the valve
consisting of three components, and the transtillae bearing dorsal lobes. The
aedeagus has no apical processes but the tube with deciduous stellate spicules
in the vesica is much more highly developed than in Hexafrenum.
Taxonomic notes. The species is allied to H. kosemponica Strand (Taiwan) stat.
rev., being very similar in forewing markings and colour, but with blunt,
straight rather than acute, curved dorsal processes to the valves of the male
genitalia, a more produced bifid process to the eighth tergite and, in the
female, a signum like an almost complete ring, deep-sided, rather than a thin,
slightly angled band of sclerotisation. The species nigribasis Hampson
(N. E. Himalaya) and dentata Hampson (Sri Lanka) have the forewings
shades of grey rather than indigo, and a more evenly curved (concave basad)
ante-medial.
Geographical range. Sundaland, ?India (2 
in BMNH).
Habitat preference. The species has been taken infrequently in a variety
of lowland forest types.
Biology. The species has been reared from Nephelium lappaceum (Sapindaceae)
in Malaysia (CIE Records: Dr K.C. Khoo).
The larva, here described from photographs kindly sent by Dr Khoo
Khay-Chong (Universiti Pertanian Malaysia), is cylindrical, the abdominal end
curving smoothly down to the anal claspers. The head and ventral surface are
light leaf-green, the head with a narrow black lateral stripe. The spiracles are
picked out with black, the most posterior one with a much larger black area than
the rest and those on the segments with prolegs are somewhat less definite. The
spiracles are set in the dorsal part of a moderate white lateral band which runs
down to the anal claspers and is edged finely with red dorsally. Above this
lateral band is an ochreous green band of similar width. The dorsal surface is
paler green extending to, and darkening at, a narrow, pale yellow dorsolateral
line on each side. There is a diffuse, narrow, somewhat broken, dark greenish
dorsal line which becomes more intense on the last segment of the abdomen.
Copies of the photographs of larva and pupa have been deposited in the BMNH.
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