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Neochera
dominia
Cramer
Phalaena dominia Cramer, 1780, Uitl. Kapellen, 3:123,174
Diagnosis. This and the next species are similar in appearance. N. dominia has
a less blue iridescence to the wings, a distinct border to the hindwing with
marginal white spots on the veins rather than streaks; the thorax has pale
highlights amongst the orange; the forewing underside has a conspicuous
subapical white bar. There may prove to be a correlation between the extent of
white and the seasonality of rainfall in a locality. The male genitalia are
constant in form throughout the range except for the typical race in India where
the apical process of the sacculus lacks a subapical expansion, and the more
interior process is relatively more basal.
Geographical range. Indo-Australian tropics from India to Queensland and
the Solomons.
Habitat preference. The only Bornean specimen seen is from Pulo Laut, a
low-lying island closely offshore to the south.
Biology. The early stages were described by Bell (MS). They are typical of the
group in shape and ornamentation. The head is brick red as are the prolegs. The
body is mostly velvety black, with the prothorax partially brick red, and brick
red markings also on A6. Young larva are banded black and white, with the brick
red areas orange. Other variants are pale orange with a series of black bands
across each segment. Pupation is on the ground in a silken cell that
incorporates earth and litter particles. The host-plant was Marsdenia, a
vine in the family Asclepiadaceae.
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