Epipaschiinae, Meyrick, 1884

Singh, Navneet, Ranjan, Rahul, Talukdar, Avishek, Joshi, Rahul, Kirti, Jagbir Singh, Chandra, Kailash & Mally, Richard, 2022, A catalogue of Indian Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 5197 (1), pp. 1-423 : 19-21

1.1. Epipaschiinae

Diversity and distribution: 737 valid species in 94 genera worldwide (Nuss et al. 2003 – 2022, Léger et al. 2020). In India, 81 species in 18 genera are reported, accounting for 10.99% of the total described Epipaschiinae diversity. Of the 18 genera, seven genera are represented by single species, nine genera by two to 10 species, and only two genera ( Salma Walker and Orthaga Walker ) are represented by 11 to 20 species ( Fig. 6 ). In India, the subfamily is most diverse in the Central Himalaya, followed by the North East and Western Ghats. No Epipaschiinae is recorded from the Trans-Himalaya ( Fig. 7 ).

Adult characters: mostly of medium size, with forewings rather irregularly and coarsely or diffusely marked and fasciated. The third segment of the labial palps is always upturned and with a pointed apex. In the wing coupling, males exhibit the frenulum as a single bristle while females, two bristles ( Solis 1999). In some cases, the male antennae are modified, with an elongate posterior process overlying the thorax, and the inner and ventral surface lined with specialised scales or setae ( Robinson et al. 1994). The ductus ejaculatorius inserts subbasally in the phallus ( Holloway et al. 2001). The uncus arms are extended to 110 degrees or more from the longitudinal uncus axis ( Solis 1999, Solis & Mitter 1992).

Larval characters: have a sclerotized ring around seta SD 1 on A8, on A9 three (sometimes two) setae are present. No sclerotized ring around seta SD 1 on mesothorax, metathorax, or A1. V1 setae on A7 twice as far apart as on A9, body with longitudinal dark bands ( Solis & Mitter 1992).

Food plants: most larvae are known to be rollers, tiers or miners of leaves. A few species are minor pests of mahoganies, avocado and corn ( Zea mays ) in the Neotropics ( Solis 1993). In Malaysia, several species have also been reared from Anacardiaceae , Dipterocarpaceae , and Myrtaceae ( Holloway et al. 2001) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Species diversity of Indian Epipaschiinae genera.

FIGURE 7. Species diversity of Indian Epipaschiinae in different Biogeographic zones/zones.