Ceratarcha umbrosa Swinhoe
- Family: Crambidae
- Subfamily: Spilomelinae
- Genus: Ceratarcha
- Distribution: India (Meghalaya), Nepal, Sabah, China (S), Taiwan, Japan.
- Habitat: Lowland and lower montane forest <1200m.
- Wing Length: 10mm
Taxonomy
The holotype of Ceratarcha umbrosa Swinhoe 1894: 200 by original designation is from India [Meghalaya] Shillong & Cherapunjee. It is the TS of Ceratarcha Swinhoe, 1894: 200 to date a monospecific genus.
Description
The females resemble geometrid moths and are more boldly marked than the males with the FW subtermenal area of the FW a darker brown shade than the yellowish brown median band. The males have elongated bodies in comparison to the female and have a large anal fan of pale fawn hair scales.
Overall the female is buff and brown speckled with darker markings and on the FW a large dark spot in the discocellular area. The FW of the female termen is strongly falcate The males are very dissimilar with more elongate purplish brown wings and angular termenae and narrow darker post median and antemedian lines. The FW sub-marginal line is characteristically sinuous, in both sexes.
The sp. is notable for extreme sexual dimorphism. Schulze (2000) taxa #676. See Wang & Speidel, (2000: 232) for a photo of the female & Inoue (1982, Pl. 39, figs 63, 64) for one of the male. Swinhoe & Ceratarcha spp. 1, 2, 3 & 4. resemble the male of C. umbrosa.
References
- Inoue, H. (1982) Pyralidae. In Inoue H., Sugi S., Kuroko H.,Moriuti S. & Kawabe A. (eds): Moths of Japan 1, 2. Kodansha, Tokyo, 307-404 pp. (vol. 1), 223–254; pls 36–48, 228, 296-314 (Vol. 2).
- Wang, HsiauYue. & Speidel, W. (2000) Guide Book to Insects in Taiwan (19). Pyraloidea (Pyralidae, Crambidae). Shu Shin Books, Taipei, Taiwan: 295. pp.
- Swinhoe, C. (1894b) New species of Pyrales from the Khasia Hills. XXIX. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., Ser 6, 14 (81): 197-210.
