Cryptophlebia Walsingham
Type species: carpophaga Walsingham = ombrodelta Lower
DIAGNOSIS
External characters:
Venation:
venation C. ombrodelta
Forewing: All veins separate; chorda extending from beyond base of R 2 to base of R 5; M -stem reduced.
Hindwing: M 3 and CuA 1 shortly stalked or connate; R and M 1 in close proximity basally.
Forewing shape and markings:
Cryptophlebia ombrodelta male
Cryptophlebia ombrodelta female
Females larger than males; forewing of females with conspicuous pre-tornal marking; this marking absent or poorly defined in males.
Additional characters:
posterior tibia and tarsus of C. ombrodelta
ml. gen.+coremata C. ombrodelta
7th and 8th abdominal segment C. ombrodelta
Male hind tibia usually with groups of extending scales.
Underside of hindwing usually with an elongate, heavily sclerotized pocket formed in the distal half of CuA 2 which contains a mass of fine hair-scales.
Abdominal structures often very complicated. In Cryptophlebia ombrodelta, eighth segment strongly developed. Sclerotized anterior edge of eighth tergite forming a curved median lip, flanked by two transverse sclerites, and preceded by a narrow bow-like single band; posterior edge of this sclerite with rows of dense short scales. 8th sternite small, consisting of two sclerites; lateral parts of posterior plate elongated, developing ovate concavities that bear scaled scent glands. Seventh abdominal segment with large coremata.
Genitalia:
Male:
male genitalia C. ombrodelta
Male genitalia fairly large. Uncus absent; tegumen simple, band-like; socii absent; vinculum strong. Aedeagus long and slender, curved; cornuti a series of flattened spines. Valvae with spine-like setae. The number and disposition of the spine-like setae on the valvae is a fairly stable character and enables most of the species to be readily distinguished.
Female:
female genitalia C. ombrodelta
Sterigma variably sclerotized, presenting clear specific differences, especially by the shape of the extensive lamella antevaginalis and the shape and size of the crochet-like signa.
Early stages:
Details on the chaetotaxy of the larvae of Cryptophlebia leucotreta is provided by Moyal, 1988.
L-group trisetose on prothorax, L-pinaculum situated ventral of spiracle. SV group trisetose on first to eighth abdominal segments, bisetose on ninth.
Biology:
Larvae attack leaves, pods, seeds, fallen fruits of various plants (Papilionaceae, Mimosaceae, Sapindaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Rutaceae), chiefly as borers.
Distribution:
Pantropical genus; one species is found in Japan, 3 in China.