Notes on new Records of Hooktip Moths, Lepidoptera: Drepanidae, from the Kumaon and Garhwal Himalaya

9 Pages·2002·5.7 MB·

by  Peter Smetacek

NOTES ON NEW RECORDS OF HOOKTIP MOTHS, LEPIDOPTERA:
DREPANIDAE, FROM THE KUMAON AND GARHWAL HIMALAYA
1
Peter Smetacek2
Key words: Hooktip moths, Drepanidae, Kumaon, Garhwal, Himalaya, Lepidoptera
Five genera and nine species are added to the known fauna ofKumaon and Garhwal Himalaya.
Information on the behaviour, ecology and distribution often Drepanid species is noted.
Introduction any background, they are very difficult to
distinguish unless one has observed them
The Drepanidae are often referred to as settling.
Hooktips, since the forewing apex of many In the systematic section, unless otherwise
species is hooked. It is chiefly a tropical and sub- mentioned, the known distribution ofthe species
tropical family of moths with about 800 species has been excerpted from Hampson (1892). The
worldwide. Ofthese, about 107 species occur in new records noted in this paperare with reference
the Indian subregion (Jairajpuri 1991), mostly to this information.
in Northeast India.
The family is placed in the superfamily Location
Geometroidea and its closest relatives are the
families Cyclididae, Thyatiridae and The administrative division of Kumaon
Epiplemidae. Two subfamilies are represented occupies a section ofthe Himalayan range west
in India, Drepaninae and Oretinae. Only the of Nepal. Together with the neighbouring
former subfamily is dealt with in the present division ofGarhwal, it constitutes the headwaters
paper. It is distinguished from Oretinae by the of the Ganga river system. Osmaston (1927)
presence ofa functional proboscis in both sexes divided the ranges ofKumaon into five climatic
and a frenulum in males. zones: the first is the submontane tract below
Little is known about the early stages of the southern foothills, called the Bhabar. The
Indian Drepanidae. The present material is based second, which receives the heaviest rainfall in
on records and observations concerning adults. the area (up to 300 cm annually), extends from
The known larval host plants ofthe Drepaninae where the submontane tract meets the hills to
in India belong to Myrtaceae {Eugenia L.), the crest ofthe outermost range ofhills. The third
Rosaceae {Rubus L.), Palmae {Phoenix L.), zone, which receives up to 200 cm of rainfall
Fagaceae {Quercus L.) and Zingiberaceae annually, is the largest zone, extending from the
{Amomum subulatum Roxb.). None of the crest of the outermost hills to the crest of the
members of this family are known to be outermost mountains of the main range. The
chemically protected, and therefore they depend fourth zone, which receives a maximum of
largely on camouflageto avoid observation. Some 100 cm annually, is the main Himalayan range,
have gone so far as to shed nearly all ofthe scales while the fifth is the trans-Himalayan area north
on their wings, leaving them practically of the main range, which receives the least
transparent. Settled with outspread wings against precipitation annually, up to 30 cm. In the present
study, Drepanidae species have been recorded
'Accepted February,2002 only in the second zone in Kumaon, where the
2JonesEstate, Bhimtal, Bhimtal valley and Maheshkhan are situated.
Nainital 263 136, Uttaranchal, India. Two species have been recorded atJoshimath and
446 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002
NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKT1PMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWALHIMALAYA
Khiron. The latter two locations are in Garhwal discussed in the systematic section, this is
and, were Osmaston’s (1927) divisions to be probably due to the absence of males from the
extended to Garhwal, they would be in the fourth area within the ambit of the light, rather than
zone, i.e. the main range. the unattractiveness of such light for them.
Bhimtal town lies 22 km by road southeast In the case ofM.fenestraria the specimens
,
of the district headquarters of Nainital, while were found dead in a pool where they had
Maheshkhan lies roughly 19 km east ofNainital. evidently come to drink water. None ofthe other
The main study site in Jones Estate, 2 km from species were recorded at water, but this does not
m
Bhimtal town, is at an elevation of 1,500 while mean that they do not visit water to quench their
m
Maheshkhan is 2,100 above msl. Joshimath thirst.
(1,750 m) is a large town in Chamoli district of None ofthe species was ever found on over-
Garhwal, while Khiron is a village and valley ripe fruit, sap or other sugar based attractants.
south of the town of Badrinath in the same However, it is not unlikely that they visit certain
district. flowers.
Duration Material Examined
The present ongoing study has been Drepanid species are known to be generally
undertaken more or less continuously for two scarce, and never found in large numbers. Several
decades and sporadically for a few years before ofthe species discussed are known by one or two
that. Hence, observations regarding relative specimens from Kumaon. Such singletons are
scarcity, annual generations, etc. are based on a almost certainly stragglers, although not
long term perspective. The observations were necessarily from outside Kumaon. The remaining
more or less restricted to the Bhimtal valley and species appear more or less regularly, especially
its vicinity, and projections concerning the Albara violacea Butler, Tridrepana albonotata
distribution of species within Kumaon are Moore and Callidrepana argenteola Moore. In
necessarily based on indirect data, as discussed these cases, only a few specimens of all those
further on. attracted were taken. The specimens not taken
were noted separately, but since they add nothing
Attractants new to the matter under discussion, all reference
to them has been omitted in this paper.
All the specimens examined except Photographs have helped place additional
Macrauzata fenestraria Moore were attracted specimens, as in the case of Tridrepana sadana
either to mercury vapour lamps of 125 or 160W, Moore and Drepanapallida Moore.
or to tungsten filament lamps of60 or 100W. In
some moth families, it has been observed that Flying Time
females are less frequently attracted to artificial
light, sometimes not at all. In the present study, With the exception ofAlbara violacea the
,
both sexes of all species were attracted to light present paper deals with species that have so far
except M.fenestraria, which was recorded under been recorded only during and immediately after
exceptional circumstances, and Teldenia the Southwest monsoon, i.e. from June to
vestigiata Butler, Drepana innotata Hampson October. Several species ofthe family are on the
and Tridrepana sadana Moore, of which only wing in spring, from February onwards, but they
females have been recorded so far. As has been have not been included here.
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NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKTIPMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWAL HIMALAYA
All the species recorded from Bhimtal in Felder, Drepana Schrank, Tridrepana Swinhoe
the present paper, except A. violacea were on and Spica Swinhoe. The new records of
,
the wing when relative humidity was over 30%. Leucodrepana and Drepana are not remarkable,
Perhaps humidity is of importance in the since one or more species ofLeucodrepana were
relatively drier area west of Nepal and these expected to be found along the Himalaya above
species will have more broods annually in the 2,500 m, and species of Drepana had been
humid eastern Himalaya and N.E. India. recorded both east and west ofKumaon, so one
species or other was certain to be found.
Dispersal and Population Dynamics The new records ofTeldenia Callidrepana
,
and Tridrepana are not unusual, since they are
Although several of these moths are widespread in the Indo-Malayan area. Given the
robustly built, are powerful flyers and have Indo-Malayan area affinities of most of the
functional mouthparts, their power of dispersal Lepidopteran fauna of Kumaon, their absence
appears to be rather limited. With some moth was more remarkable than their presence. The
families, such as the Limacodidae, which lack interesting record is that ofSpica from the main
A
functional mouthparts, their limited power of range. number of other moth and butterfly
dispersal is understandable. Factors constraining species are restricted to the main range, even
the Drepanidae, however, are still obscure. though conditions exist that would probably
Examples of this are Teldenia vestigiata support their populations in the outer ranges
,
Drepana irmotata and Tridrepana sadana, but (Smetacek, P. unpublished data). The factors
especiallyMacrauzatafenestraria which has not restricting the distribution ofsuch species to the
,
ventured across the relatively short distance main range will certainly prove to be interesting
between Maheshkhan and Bhimtal, at least when they are discovered.
during the last three decades. The former three, It is not certain that Spica does not occur
too, do not appear to be notable travellers, with in the outer ranges. However, if it did, its habit
what seem to be odd stragglers reaching the study of being attracted to light and sitting there the
site in Bhimtal. whole day, even in towns, would have drawn
m
As has been noted earlier, these moths are attention to it. It has been recorded at 3,800
never common. Population outbreaks have never in Nepal (Ebert 1966), so it might be a high
been noted, although population levels increased elevation species, therefore restricted to the main
during the years of heavy rainfall between 1979 range. The presence ofthis species in Joshimath
m
and 1983, and subsequently plummeted in the at 1,750 elevation might repay further study
wake of repeated forest fires in the post-1984 in understanding its ecology better.
period, which was followed by several drought
years during the late eighties. Systematic Section
Zoogeography Macrauzata Butler
1889. Illust. Typ. Spec. Lep. Het.
At the generic level, the known Drepanid in the Brit. Mus. vii: 43.
fauna of Kumaon includes Macrocilix Butler, Macrauzatafenestraria Moore
Macrauzata Butler, Auzata Walker, Deroca 1867. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond.: 639.
Walker, Bapta Stephens, Oreta Walker and
Albara Walker. The present paper adds Teldenia Material Examined: 4 exs.: 4.vi.l998
m
Moore, Leucodrepana Hampson, Callidrepana Maheshkhan 2,100 x 4 (2 male, 2 female).
448 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002
,
NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKTIPMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWALHIMALAYA
Forewing Length: 22-26 mm. 9.viii.2001, 1 5.viii.200 1 , 1 7.viii.200 1
mm
Expanse: 60-66 (Hampson 1892); 18.viii.2001, 20.viii.2001; Females: 29.vii.2001,
mm
46-54 mihi 8.viii.2001, 12.viii.2001, 16.viii.2001, 17.viii.2001
( ).
Distribution: Kangra(Himachal Pradesh), x2, 20.viii.2001, 3 1.viii. 1997, 5.ix.l997.
Sikkim; Japan. Forewing Length: 10-12 mm.
mm
Remarks: Hampson (1892) described only Expanse: 25 (Hampson 1892);
mm
thefemale, forwhichthe abovemeasurementswere 22-26 {mihi).
given. Of the material examined, the males are Distribution: Sikkim, Nagas; Sri Lanka.
smallerwith a forewing length of22-23 mm, while Remarks: The present record extends the
both females have a forewing length of 26 mm. known distribution of the genus and species
All the specimens examined are considerably westward to Kumaon. Only one brood has been
smaller than those examined by Hampson. noted, butthere wouldprobablybe a second brood
The specimens were found dead, floating in earlier in the year. It is a small, inconspicuous
a small pool formed by a forest stream, along with moth, easily overlooked since it is not common
a large number of other Lepidoptera, especially and never appears in numbers. It is commoner
butterflies. It is likely that the water ofthe stream in some years than in others, eg. in 2001 it was
was poisoned by insecticides and other chemicals commoner than in the proceeding years.
from the apple orchards near its source, for several The specimens examined match Hampson’s
butterflies that came to drink water while I was (1892) description and depiction. In the matter of
there died and ended up floating on the water. size, some are a little smaller and others a little
All four specimens retrieved from the water larger than the specimens examined by Hampson,
are in reasonably good condition, with the wings which were males. Therefore, it appears that there
intact and the pattern readily discernible. The is little difference in size between the sexes.
latter matches Hampson’s (1892) description and The species is on the wing during periods
depiction. of high atmospheric humidity, generally over
This seems to be a very local moth, for 35% indoors and over 40% outdoors. It has been
m
though it appears to be established at 2,100 bred on Eugeniafirma (Myrtaceae) in Sri Lanka
elevation in Maheshkhan forest, it has never been according to Sevastopulo (1940). This tree does
m
recorded from the Bhimtal valley, which is 600 not occur in Kumaon, but three other species of
lower but adjoins Maheshkhan valley and is only Eugenia do (Osmaston 1927), all within a
a few air-kilometres away. It is robustly built, with 15 km radius ofthe main study area. Ifthis moth
a functional proboscis, so the distance should be feeds only on species of Eugenia in Kumaon,
easily within its potential dispersal range. the present records are probably from the upper
Watson and Whalley (1983) depict a limit ofits altitudinal range, since the larval host
Japanese species of the genus as Macrauzata plant does not occur above this altitude.
maxima Inoue, so fenestraria probably does
notoccurthere, althoughHampson includedJapan. Leucodrepana Hampson
1892. Faun. Brit. Ind. Moths I: 333;
Teldenia Moore Fig. 231 (male).
1882. Lep. Ceyl. ii: 119. Leucodrepana idaeoides Hampson
Teldenia vesligiala Butler 1892. Faun. Brit. Ind. Moths I: 333;
1880. Ann. Mag. Nat Hist. (5) vi: 222. Fig. 231 (male).
Material Examined: 14 exs.: Males: Material Examined: 1 ex.: 2 1 .vii. 1992
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NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKTIPMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWALHIMALAYA
Khiron, Garhwal 3,600 m. common insect in the Bhimtal valley. It ascends
Forewing Length: 14 mm. to at least 1,730 m, for I have noted it in the
mm mm
Expanse: 33 (Hampson 1892); 30 nearby town ofBhowali.
mihi Females are generally largerthanthe males
( ).
m
Distribution: Sikkim 3,048 and have less brown suffusion on the wings. In
Remarks: The single specimen examined fact, the light brown ground colour noted by
was attracted to a campfire on a meadow just Hampson (1892) varies considerably, with some
above the tree line. The present record extends specimens almost whitish and others suffused
the known distribution ofthe genus and species with brown. In other respects, the specimens
westward to Garhwal from the previously known match Hampson’s description. The flight is rapid
localities in Sikkim and the Khasi Hills. The and direct.
species will almost certainly be found in similar In the matter of size, one male examined
localities in Kumaon, although it has not been was smaller than the material examined by
recorded so far. The present record also extends Hampson, while the females were not as large as
the altitudinal range by about 550 m, from the Hampson’s material. The latter seems a
m
previous record by Hampson of 3,048 to consistent trend, for some other females,
3,600 m. examined in photographs, do not appear to be
The specimen examined is slightly smaller larger than 56 mm.
than Hampson’s type material. Whether this is
within the acceptable limits or is characteristic Drepana innotata Hampson
of the western population will only be clarified 1892. Faun. Brit. Ind. Moths I: 335.
by examining more specimens. The flight ofthis
moth is weak and erratic. It settles with the wings Material Examined: 1 ex.: 26.viii.1997
held flat against the substrate in the manner (Female).
adopted by most Drepanidae. Forewing Length: 20 mm.
mm
Expanse: 36 (Female) (Hampson
mm
Drepana Schrank 1892); 44 (mihi).
1802. Fauna Boica II: 155. Distribution: Kulu (Himachal Pradesh).
Drepanapallida Moore Remarks: The single female is the only
1879. Desc. New Lep. Ins. Coll. Atkinson. specimen ofthis species seen so far in Bhimtal.
Het.: 84. It extends the known distribution eastwards to
Kumaon. It is rather larger than the type material
Material Examined: 6 exs.: 13.vii.1977; examined by Hampson. He stated that the wings
1 2.vii. 1 990; 16.X.1993 (Females); 7.ix.l974; are hyaline with a few scattered white scales, and
9.ix.l997; 25.ix. 1995 (Males). absolutely without markings. However, the
Forewing Length: 20-26 mm. specimen examined has two very faint black
mm mm M
Expanse: 44 (males), 60 (females) postmedial spots on veins Cu and of the
mm lb 3
(Hampson 1892); 42-56 (mihi). forewing.
Distribution: Sikkim. It is likely that this moth will be more
Remarks: A new record for Kumaon. This frequently met in suitable localities, such as
and the next species extend the range ofthe genus broadleaf evergreen forests at slightly higher
to Kumaon. It is bivoltine, with one brood on elevation than the main study site, e.g. above
the wing in July and the second in September 1,800 m. Such forests are home to other semi-
and October. It is a well established, if not very hyaline or hyaline Drepanids such as members
450 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002
NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKTJPMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWALHIMALAYA
&
of the genus Deroca Walker. The specimen Callidrepana Felder Felder
examined was certainly a straggler in the process 1867. Reise Frig. Novara Lep. pi. 83,
of dispersing the species. It seems that, like fig.l 1 . Erkl. p. 2.
Macrauzata fenestraria these moths do Callidrepana argenleola Moore
, &
not generally travel far from favoured localities. 1859. in Horsfield Moore, Cat. Lep. Ins.
However, the present record indicates that Mus. Hon. East Ind. Co. Lond. II: 369.
capable of greater dispersal than
it is
M. fenestraria. Material Examined: 13 exs.: 27.viii.1997;
3 1 .viii. 1 978; 5.ix.l997; 6.ix.l995 x2; 7.ix.l983;
Albara Walker 1 0.ix. 1997 x 2; 13.ix. 1 977; 25.ix. 1999; 1.x. 1 992;
9.x. 1998; lO.x.1998.
1866. Cat. Lep. Het. Brit. Mus.,
Forewing Length: 15-22 mm.
London xxxv: 1566.
mm mm
Expanse: 35-45 (males); 50
Albara violacea Butler
mm
(females) (Hampson 1892); 34-46 {mihi).
1889. Illust. Typ. Spec. Lop. Het.
Distribution: Sikkim; Burma; Sri Lanka;
in the Brit. Mus. vii: 42, pi. 124, fig. 7.
Java (Hampson 1 892); India to Taiwan, Malaya,
Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi (Barlow 1982).
Material Examined: 7 exs.: 12.iii.1991,
Remarks: The present records extend the
1 .iv. 1991, 6.iv.2002, 13.vi.1983, 16.vii.2001, known distribution of the genus and species to
20.ix.2000, 2.xi.2000.
Kumaon. There appears to be a single extended
Forewing Length: 17-19 mm.
mm annual generation, which is on the wing from
Expanse: 38 (Hampson 1892);
the end ofAugust to mid-October. The lack ofa
mm
36-40 mihi
( ). spring generation may indicate the greater
Distribution: Dharamsala (Himachal
importance ofhigh atmospheric humidity levels,
Pradesh).
rather than temperature or day length, in
Remarks: A new record for Kumaon
governing emergence patterns.
which extends the known distribution of the
It is among the commoner Drepanids in
species eastwards. It is rare in the Bhimtal valley.
the Bhimtal valley. This appears to be the
There appear to be three annual broods, one in
altitudinal limit of the species, since I have not
spring, the second in summer and the third in
seen it at higher elevation.
autumn.
The specimens examined agree with
The specimens examined add some
Hampson’s (1892) description in all respects
information to the known expanse ofthe species
except in the size of the females, which are not
with the specimens examined by Hampson
as large as the specimens examined by Hampson.
forming a mean. In other respects, they do not
differ from the description.
Tridrepana Swinhoe
The appearance ofthis species in Kumaon
1895. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.: 3.
is not unexpected, unlike Spica luteola.
Tridrepana albonotata Moore
The other member of the genus found in New
1879. Desc. Lep. Ins. Coll. Atkinson.
Kumaon, A. lilacina Moore, is much commoner
Het.: 83.
with an extended flying period. It is likely
that other species ofthe genus will be recorded
Material Examined: 9 exs.: 15.vii. 1990;
from biotypes not covered in the present
25.viii. 1993; 31.viii.1999; 10.ix.1977; 10.ix.1999;
study.
1 1 .ix.1977; ll.ix.1998; 25.ix.1999; 14.X.1995.
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NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKTIPMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWALHIMALAYA
Forewing Length: 14-20 mm. At least two other specimens of this
mm
Expanse: 34-38 (Hampson 1892); 30- species, identified from photographs, have been
mm
42 mihi recorded in the Bhimtal valley previously.
( )
Distribution: Sikkim; Nilgiris (Tamil The specimens examined are rather similar
Nadu) (Hampson 1892); Oriental Tropics to the figure of Tridrepana fulvata Snellen in
(Barlow 1982). Barlow (1982), except for the size of the discal
Remarks: A new record for Kumaon. This patch and the submarginal spots below the
and the next species extend the known forewing apex, which are black in the specimen
distribution of the genus to Kumaon. Although examined but brown in the figure. T. fulvata is
not a common insect, it is remarkably regular in from outside Indian faunal limits.
the appearance ofthe brood, as can be seen from The specimens examined differ from
the records above that are more than twentyyears Hampson’s description of T. sadana in the
apart. It seems that there is one extended brood, following respects:
on the wing from the end of August to mid- On the forewing recto there is a brown-
,
A
October, with a smaller brood in July. It is also ringed white spot in the cell. similar spot is
possible that the July record is that of an situated at the lower angle ofthe cell, at the top
individual that emerged unusually early. ofthe large red-brown patch. There are traces of
The specimens examined match the a postmedial line. On the hindwing recto there
,
description given by Hampson (1892) as well as is a brown-ringed white spot at the upper end of
the male illustrated in Barlow (1982). However, the cell and a similar, but smaller spot at the
the males are smaller and the females larger than lower end ofthe cell.
the material examined by Hampson. The verso surface is unmarked, except for
The species is well established in the an obscure speck at the end ofthe cell and three
Bhimtal valley, which is probably near its upper prominent submarginal brown specks below the
altitudinal limit. It might be commoner at lower apex, which are repeated on the recto surface. The
elevation. Like several other Drepanids, it is on cilia below the apex ofthe forewing are brown.
the wing during the wettest period of the year, The reason thatthe specimen examined has
which suggests that atmospheric humidity plays been placed tentatively underthis species despite
a major role in governing emergence patterns of the abovementioned differences is that if this is
the species. an undescribed species or a species unknown to
me, it will be possible to place it correctly on the
Tridrepana sadana Moore basis ofthe points mentioned above.
1865. Proc. zoo Soc. Lond.: 817. There appearto be two annual generations,
1.
one in spring and the second in autumn. It is
Material Examined: 3 ex.: 19.iv.2001 certainly a very rare moth in the Bhimtal valley.
(female), 20.ix.2000 (male), .x.1998 (female).
1 1
Forewing Length: 20-24 mm. Spica Swinhoe
mm
Expanse: 40 (male) (Hampson 1 892); 1889. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond.: 424.
mm
42 (male), 48-52 (females) (mihi). Spica luteola Swinhoe
Distribution: Sikkim. 1889. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond.: 424, pi. 44 fig. 10.
Remarks: The specimens examined are
placed tentatively under this species. It is a new Material Examined: 4 exs.: 29.viii.1993,
m
record for Kumaon, from where this genus was Joshimath, Garhwal 1,750 x3; 2.ix.l993
hitherto not reported. Joshimath, Garhwal 1,750 m.
452 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002
NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKTIPMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWALHIMALAYA
Forewing Length: 16-18 mm. found at higher elevation, i.e. above 1,600 m or
mm
Expanse: 34 (Hampson 1892); 34- in the main Himalayan range eventually. It has
mm
38 mihi not been recorded mainly because no one has
( ).
Distribution: Sikkim (Hampson 1892); really looked for it.
Nepal (Ebert 1966). The present paper adds five genera, i.e.
Remarks: The present records extend the Teldenia Leucodrepana Callidrepana
, , ,
known distribution of the genus and species to Tridrepana and Spica, and nine species to the
Garhwal. Since it is known from both east and known Drepanid fauna ofKumaon and Garhwal.
west ofKumaon, it will almostcertainly be found The new records in the present paper constitute
in Kumaon. It is only known from the main c. 35% of the Drepanid fauna of this area, in
Himalayan range and since little work has been terms of species as well as genera. There are
carried out in this range in Kumaon, the fact several unidentified species in my collection, so
that it has so far not been recorded is not the figure for species, if not for genera, will
remarkable. increase.
It is attracted to tungsten filament lamps The difficulty with surveying the
and all the specimens were collected at different Drepanidae is that firstly, in this area, they are
locations in Joshimath town in the morning, on the wing for a rather limited period, the exact
below lamps that had been left on all night. The timing varying from species to species, as well
flight is rather weak and fluttering, unlike the as with altitude, local weather conditions and
Noctuids, which it superficially resembles. It probably several other factors not understood at
seems to be the only Indian Drepanid besides present. Secondly, they are local insects, not
Cilix glaucata Scopoli that rests with its givento much travelling, unlike large moths such
forewings over its hindwings, both draped as the majority of the Hawkmoths. Therefore,
laterally overthe abdomen, in the position usually the observer has to be in the right place at just
adopted by Arctiids and Noctuids. the right time. Thirdly, they are generally scarce
It was not recorded from other localities insects. Although it is possible that some species
in Garhwal around Joshimath, where studies are common in favourable habitats, they are never
were carried out earlier in August. The brood is attracted in large numbers to artificial light, the
probably not on the wing until the end ofAugust, only known attractant at present. It is not
as in the case of Callidrepana argenteola. remarkable forthis family that some species, like
However, in Nepal, Ebert (1966) found it about Drepana innotata have been recorded only once
,
the village of Khumjung (3,800 m) in the main in over twenty years at the main study site,
Himalayan range in July. Possibly, Joshimath is although it will probably be found to be well
near the lower limit of its altitudinal range. established in a biotype not far from Bhimtal in
M
due course. fenestraria has not even appeared
Discussion so far at the main study site, although it is
evidently well established a few air-kilometers
Hampson (1892) recorded 14 species of9 awav in Maheshkhan.
j
genera from the Himalaya west of Nepal, of In keeping with the trend observed in the
which one species was treated as a Geometrid by Sphingidae (Smetacek 1994) and butterflies
him. No species were specifically recorded from (Smetacek 1995, 2001; unpublished data) in
Kumaon at the time. Subsequently, members of Kumaon, most of the new records are Indo-
all nine genera, except Cilix Leach, have been Malayan species or genera. The range of only
recorded from Kumaon. Cilix will probably be two species is extended eastwards. These are
JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 99(3), DEC. 2002 453
NOTESONNEWRECORDSOFHOOKTIPMOTHSFROMKUMAONANDGARHWALHIMALAYA
Albara violacea and Drepana innotata. While any stragglers. This is not often the case in other
the former appears to be a well established moth families. Minor upsets in the weather are
resident, the latter is a straggler but presumably often enough to cause the unseasonal appearance
not from very far away. It is impossible to say ofNoctuids, Geometrids and members ofseveral
whether the remaining new records are recent other families. Even the unusually early
colonists or have been established for centuries, Southwest monsoon in 1999 and 2000 in this
since there is no reference material to fall back area did not affect Drepanid emergence patterns
upon. Therefore, the present material must serve at all. During drought years and in the wake of
as base-line data for future studies. major forest fires, populations tend to drop,
It is noteworthy that except for Drepana sometimes steeply, but the same can be said for
innotata and Tridrepana sadana, none of the all other moth families.
species display any variation from the material Although two species in two genera, i.e.
described by Hampson or, in the case of Leucodrepana idaeoides and Spica luteola have
Tridrepana albonotata from the Malayan not been recorded from Kumaon so far, the fact
,
specimen illustrated in Barlow (1982). There that they have been recorded from both east
seems to be very little geographical variation (Nepal and Sikkim) and west (Garhwal) ofhere
among the species treated in this paper. Nor has implies that they will almost certainly be found
any seasonal variation been noted among them. in similar habitats in Kumaon.
The only difference between Hampson’s
specimens and the present ones appears to be in Acknowledgements
the matter of size, but even in this, there are no
consistent trends and most ofthe differences may A Times Fellowship 1991 enabled me to
be attributed to the greater number ofspecimens visit Joshimath and Khiron in 1992. 1 am grateful
examined in the present study. to the Times of India Group for this; to Kumar
The flying time of Drepanids appears to Ghorpade for literature and to the editor for
be remarkably regular in this area, with hardly valuable suggestions.
Refer NCES
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