Gnathothlibus erotus Cramer

Sphinx erotus Cramer, 1777, Uitl. Kapell., 2: 12.

Chromis erotus Cramer; Rothschild & Jordan, 1903: 503.

Diagnosis

The reddish brown forewings and brown-bordered orange hindwings distinguish this species.

Taxonomic Notes

The typical form flies in the Oriental tropics, and ssp. eras Boisduval flies from the Moluccas eastwards.

Geographical range

Indo-Australian tropics and eastwards into Polynesia as far as Pitcairn and Henderson Is.

Habitat preference

The species is not common.

One specimen has been taken in the lowlands, one in lower montane forest and two in upper montane forest during recent surveys.

None were taken during the Kinabalu survey (Holloway, 1976).

Biology

The larva is brown or green with green- or blue-ringed white ocellar markings the posterior four of which are linked by a pale line.

Regional differences are mentioned in the generic account.

Recorded host-plants (Bell & Scott, 1937; Robinson, 1975; Moulds, 1981) are: Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae); Dillenia, Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae); Escallonia (Escalloniaceae); Melastoma (Melastomataceae); Morinda, Pentas (Rubiaceae); Cayratia, Cissus, Parthenocissus, Vitis (Vitidaceae).