| Macroglossum heliophila | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Sphingidae |
| Genus: | Macroglossum |
| Species: | M. heliophila |
| Binomial name | |
| Macroglossum heliophila Boisduval, 1875[1] |
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| Synonyms | |
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Macroglossum heliophila is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found from north-eastern India (Sikkim) across southern China to Cheju Island (South Korea), southern Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines and then south through Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia to New Guinea and neighbouring islands.[2] It is also known from Sri Lanka and Queensland.
The wingspan is 50-60 mm. There are several generations per year in Hong Kong, with adults on wing in April and from June to December.
Adults are brown with a pale band across each forewing, and broad yellow band across each hindwing.[3]
The larvae feed on Psychotria rubra in Hong Kong and Psychotria dalzellii in India. Other recorded foodplants include Morinda species. There are green, reddish brown and black forms of the fully grown larva. Early instars are blood red with honey yellow at the anterior and posterior, the red fading and the body becoming greener with growth.[4]