Syntomini

Singh, Navneet, Joshi, Rahul, Kirti, Jagbir Singh, Bisht, Santosh Singh & Param, Harsimranjeet Singh, 2021, A catalogue of Indian Arctiinae (Erebidae, Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 5058 (1), pp. 1-118 : 13

Syntomini

Diagnostic characters: The Syntomini often mimic Hymenoptera with much smaller hindwings and reduction of wing veins through loss of M1, M2, one anal vein and sometimes one branch of CuA. Abdomen is ringed with yellow or white. The male retinaculum is often lost and the frenulum is often reduced. The larvae are distinguished by homoideous crochets in most groups ( Holloway et al. 2001). In addition, the tymbal organs are reportedly lost or reduced in Syntomini .

Diversity and distribution: In India, Syntomini are represented by 70 species and two subspecies in eight genera. Out of the eight genera, three contain single species, four are known by two to 20 species and only Amata is a species rich genus with 40 species from India ( Fig. 8 ). Syntomini is most diverse in North-East followed by Central Himalaya. No Syntomini are recorded from Indian Desert ( Fig. 9 ).

Food plant: Many feed on algae, lichens, fungi and detritus. Others are flower- feeders ( Amata ) and a few of these are crop pests.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Species diversity of Indian Syntomini genera

FIGURE 9. Distribution of Syntomini within the biogeographic zones/ subzones of India and among the records like ‘throughout India’, ‘North India’, and ‘India’