Asota ficus

Description

Asota ficus is a moth in the family Erebidae first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. It is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia (Sumatra), Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and northern Vietnam. The wingspan is about 67 mm. Antennae of male fasciculated and long. Third joint of palpi long which is grey tipped with black. Base of tegula yellow with a black spot. Dorsal spot of abdomen is often almost obsolete. Forewings with a yellow basal patch which extends along costa and in cell to two thirds length of cell, with an orange spot outlined with black on the costa, streaks in the cell and on inner margin. Two black spots found on costa with two in cell, one on inner margin and two lines across interno-median interspace. The rest of the wing is pale reddish brown with yellow streaked veins. Hindwings are bright orange yellowish. There is a black spot at end of cell and a submarginal irregular series. Larva has a black head. Somites are dark velvety brown with slight white hairs arising from red papilla. Yellow patches can be found on fourth to eleventh somites. Asota is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae first described by Jacob Hübner in 1819. Species are widely distributed throughout Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Malayan region and tropical parts of the Australian region. Palpi upturned, where the second joint reaching the vertex of the head and the third joint is slender in variable lengths. Antennae fasciculated (bundled) in males and ciliated (hairy) in females. Forewings with vein 5 from the lower angle of cell or just above it. Vein 6 from the upper angle or below it. Areole absent. Hindwings with vein 5 from just above lower angle of cell. Veins 6 and 7 from the upper angle. The genus was formerly placed in the families Noctuidae and Arctiidae by some authors. Other authors placed them in the family Aganaidae or Hypsidae. Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that the Aganainae are most closely related to the Herminiinae (litter moths), and this pair of subfamilies is most closely related to the Arctiinae (tiger and lichen moths), all within the family Erebidae.