Cricula ceylonica, the Sri Lankan cricula silkmoth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. The species was first described by Karl Jordan in 1909 and it is endemic to Sri Lanka.[1] The debate of this species with much broader range circular species - Cricula trifenestrata is not yet fully understood. However, Rougerie et al., in 2009 considered Cricula ceylonica a valid species, probably endemic to Sri Lanka.[2]
| Sri Lanka cricula silkmoth | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Saturniidae |
| Genus: | Cricula |
| Species: | C. ceylonica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cricula ceylonica Jordan, 1909
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Taxonomy
editVery similar to C. trifenestrata, therefore many texts and agricultural publications still classified the Sri Lankan population under C. trifenestrata as its subspecies, C. trifenestrata ceylonica. The revision of the two species needs more clarifications and researches.[3]
Description
editThe wingspan is 60–100 mm. Adult male has clayish-ochraceous wings. The transparent spot on the forewing is lined by a broad black ring. Subapical lobe of clasper broad. Female has tawny-ochraceous wings. There are three transparent spots on the forewing lined by broad black rings. On the ventral side, the transparent spots of both wings more strongly edged with black. Larval host plants are Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Mangifera indica.[4]
References
edit- ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Cricula ceylonica". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Rougerie, R. & Collective of iBOL Saturniidae expert taxonomists (2009). "Cricula ceylonica". Lepidoptera Barcode of Life. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Infraspecific Taxon Details: Cricula trifenestrata ceylonica Jordan, 1909". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Family Saturniidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Sri Lanka: An overview". The Journal of Tropical Asian Entomology. Lepcey. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
External links
edit- "trifenestrata (Helfer 1837)". Saturniidae World.
- "Cricula Silkmoth (C. trifenestrata)". Lepidoptera Breeders Association.
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