Petelia distracta (Walker, 1860) -

Taxonomic Information

Petelia Herrich-Schäffer, [1855] species known from India.
Petelia albopunctata (Swinhoe, 1891). India: Meghalaya (Khasi Hills). 
Petelia delostigma Prout, 1932. 
Petelia distracta (Walker, 1860). India. 
Petelia capitata (Walker, 1867). India; Sri Lanka. 
Petelia fasciata (Moore, 1868). India: Sikkim, Meghalaya. 
Petelia immaculata Hampson, 1893. India; Sri Lanka. 
Petelia medardaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1856. Indian subregion. 
Petelia riobearia (Walker, 1860). India: Arunachal Pradesh; Nepal. 
Petelia paroobathra Prout, 1932. India (?); Borneo; Sumatra. 

Note: Provisionally identified as Petelia distracta (Walker, 1860).

Photo Gallery and Species Biology

Notes: See notes on page 174 (Sondhi et al 2021). Petelia distracta (Walker, 1860) and Petelia medardaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1856 are similar species that have a prominent black spot on the underside of the hindwing. These species are best separated by comparing male genitalia, but based on the wing markings, our individual from Shendurney is provisionally identified by the authors as P. distracta. Species identity arrived at after discussion with D. Stüning; only way to be certain is to dissect genitalia.

StateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNo date
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Daman & Diu
Delhi
Goa
Gujarat
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Kerala2
Lakshadweep
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Odisha
Paschimbanga
Pondicherry
Punjab
Rajasthan
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Total2
  1. OD: Bargosa distracta Walker, 1860. List Spec. Lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus. 21: 481. TL: Punjab. Text at https://archive.org/details/listofspecimenso1921brit/page/481/mode/1up?view=theater 
  2. Ephyra strigulataria Walker, 1862. List Spec. Lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus. 26: 1575. Text at https://archive.org/details/listofspecimenso2526brit/page/1575/mode/1up?view=theater 
  3. Iyer, G., D. Stüning & S. Sondhi. 2021. An inventory of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometroidea: Geometridae) of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(13): 19887–19920. 7105.13.13.19887-19920. Image 192.
  4. Sondhi, S., Y. Sondhi, T. Karmakar & K. Kunte. 2021. Moth diversity (Lepidoptera) of Shendurney and Ponmudi in Agastyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Kerala, India: an update. Tropical Lepidoptera Research 31(3): 166-178. Pg, 174, Pl. 3/59.
  5. https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-11/Caberini/caberini_2_2.php

Notes: See notes on page 174 (Sondhi et al 2021). Petelia distracta (Walker, 1860) and Petelia medardaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1856 are similar species that have a prominent black spot on the underside of the hindwing. These species are best separated by comparing male genitalia, but based on the wing markings, our individual from Shendurney is provisionally identified by the authors as P. distracta. Species identity arrived at after discussion with D. Stüning; only way to be certain is to dissect genitalia.

Page citation

Anonymous 2024. Petelia distracta (Walker, 1860) – . In Sondhi, S., Y. Sondhi, R.P. Singh, P. Roy and K. Kunte (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 3.72. Published by the Indian Foundation for Butterflies. URL: https://www.mothsofindia.org/petelia-distracta, accessed 2024/03/28.