Scriptoplusia nigriluna (Walker, 1858) 

Scientific name

Scriptoplusia nigriluna (Walker, 1858). TL: Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

Synonyms

Plusia nigriluna Walker, 1858

Plusia nigriluna; Holloway, 1976

Type-Locality: Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

Distribution

Kerala (new record)

India (Sikkim)

Sri Lanka

China

Malaysia

 Diagnosis

S. nigriluna differs from its closely related species S. rubiflabellata by its smaller wingspan, forewing colour patterns which shows less metallic suffusion and hindwing greyish- brown than S. rubiflabellata. Valvae of S. nigriluna broader than other.

 Description

Head with frons and vertex dark brown. Labial palpus upturned with yellow spot present on the end of each segment. Collar broad with red scaled tuft present at the base. Thorax with well developed crest and tufts. Abdomen slender and shorter. Forewing broader and shorter with pointed apex. Stigma small and divided in to two spots. Forewing dark coloured with shade of purple colour and metallic suffusion on lower subterminal area. Black spots present on basal and median area. Terminal and subterminal wavy bands present. Hindwing rounded and paler, darker  at the marginal area. Valvae broader and slightly asymrnetrical; Clavus longer and ampulla easily visible. Tip of sacculus forms a small, rounded lobe at base of clavus.Vinculum broader and slightly narrower towards saccus. Juxtra sclerotised. Uncus longer and pointed at the apex. Aedeagus with vesica having a small field of minute spines at continuation of lateral bar of carina and small diverticulum present in unorganised manner.

 Image Gallery