Macroglossum insipida

Macroglossum insipida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Macroglossum
Species: M. insipida
Binomial name
Macroglossum insipida
Butler, 1875[1]
Synonyms
  • Macroglossa troglodytus Boisduval, 1875
  • Macroglossum insipida sinensis Mell, 1922

Macroglossum insipida is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Sri Lanka, southern and eastern India, Nepal, Thailand, southern China, Taiwan, Japan (Ryukyu Archipelago), Vietnam, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sarawak), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan), Papua New Guinea and Queensland.[2]

The wingspan is 40–54 mm. Adults fly deep within bushes to reach nectiferous flowers, particularly those of Duranta erecta. They are active at dawn and dusk. Adults have light and dark brown forewings, and yellow and black hind wings.

Larvae have been recorded feeding on Hedyotis hydyotidea and Hedyotis acutangulata in Hong Kong, Hedyotis uncinella and Hedyotis scandens in India, as well as Spermacoce hispida, Borreria and Corchorus capsularis. The larvae are green initially, but the last instar is sometimes brown, with diagonal dark stripes and white speckles. All instars have a spine on the tail. They grow to a length of about 50 mm.[3]

Subspecies

References

  1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  2. Pittaway AR; Kitching I. "''Macroglossum insipida insipida'' at Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic". Tpittaway.tripod.com. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  3. "Australian Insects". Lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2011-10-25.