Eurypteryx bhaga Moore

Darapsa bhaga Moore, 1865, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1865: 794.

Eurypteryx bhaga Moore; Rothschild & Jordan, 1903: 594.

Diagnosis

This species has a looped forewing postmedial and a dark basal spot as in Daphnis species.

However, the forewing is much more falcate apically and a more uniform dark green.

The antemedial is oblique, straight, weakly paler than the ground, rather than curved or flexed strongly round to enclose the basal zone.

There is no marginal triangle subapically.

Taxonomic Notes

Despite numerous similarities with Daphnis, Rothschild & Jordan transferred this species to Eurypteryx. This placement should be re-examined critically when a full revision of the Macroglossinae is undertaken.

Geographical range

N.E. Himalaya, Sundaland; Sulawesi.

Habitat preference

The species is probably more frequent in areas of lowland forest but has been recorded singly in lower montane (G. Api) and upper montane (Bukit Retak) localities.

Biology

Dupont & Roepke (1941) noted similarities of the larva with that of Daphnis hypothous. The young larva is green with a yellow-tipped, blue horn.

The fully grown larva is whitish green with a white head.

The dorsolateral line, yellow above, white below, runs the length of the body.

The horn is bluish green, granulated white.

The host-plant recorded was Alstonia (Apocynaceae), another similarity with Daphnis.