Eudocima serpentifera (Walker, [1858])

Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), Zootaxa 5148 (1), pp. 1-151 : 15

Eudocima serpentifera (Walker, [1858])

( Figs 6 : C–D, 18: B, 23: E, 30: C, 71: C, 72: C, 91: C–D, H)

In this large (44–56 mm) species the dorsal hindwing medial patch does not reach the wing margin. It is separated from E. procus as described above. The dorsal forewing of E. serpentifera females has a light orange-brown patch extending from the anal angle to vein Cu1. The homologous patch in females of E. colubra only extends to the veinlet between Cu2 and Cu1, and is a distinctly darker orange-brown. Furthermore, the female of E. colubra has subterminal greyish-white shadings between the pm and subterminal lines posterior of vein M3, which are absent in E. serpentifera . Eudocima serpentifera ranges from Brazil and Peru to Mexico and the West Indies. A single U.S. record from Louisiana is illustrated in Brou (2006). In Costa Rica it feeds on Disciphania calocarpa (Menispermaceae) ( Janzen & Hallwachs 2009).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Neotropical Eudocima, Tetrisia, and Graphigona adults (dorsal aspect).