Macrocyttara Turner, 1918

Kallies, Axel, 2012, Revision of Cossinae and small Zeuzerinae from Australia (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) 3454, Zootaxa 3454 (1), pp. 1-62 : 17

Macrocyttara Turner, 1918 gen. rev.

Type species: Culama expressa T.P. Lucas, 1902

Macrocyttara is very similar to Culama , with which it was synonymized by Schoorl (1990). This was followed by Yakovlev (2011); however, we here agree with Edwards (1996) and consider these genera distinct.

Diagnosis. Species of Macrocyttara differ from those of Culama by their wing venation (all radial veins separate, not stalked, figured in Common 1990), and from both Culama and Zyganisus by their female antennal structure (prismatic, not bipectinate), their short apical segment of the labial palps, and their smaller size. A small patch on the hindwing devoid of scales between the bases of veins CuP and 1A+2A may be an autapomorphic character of this genus.

Remarks. The biology of only one species of Macrocyttara is known. Larvae of M. expressa bore gregariously in the trunks and branches of the river mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum (Myrsinaceae) ; however, other host plants must be used, as this species also occurs away from the coast. The larva pupates in a stiff oval cocoon near the entrance to their galleries ( Common 1990; see also Illidge & Quail 1903; De Baar & Hockney 1987; Hockney & De Baar 1991; De Baar 2009).