Theretra alecto Linnaeus

Sphinx alecto Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat. ed. 10: 492.

Theretra alecto Linnaeus; Rothschild & Jordan, 1903: 776.

Diagnosis

This and Theretra suffusaWalker , suffusa, both have deep pink hindwings, but in alecto the forewings are browner, less variegated, the body lacks a pate dorsal stripe, there are lateral black patches at the base of the abdomen, and the hindwing has the base and dorsum strongly blackened, though there is a diagnostic pale zone at the tornus.

Geographical range

S.W. Asia, Japan, Oriental tropics to Sulawesi and Kei.

Habitat preference

The species is infrequent in the lowlands, tending to be taken cultivated areas.

Biology

The larva was described by Bell & Scott (1937) and Dupont & Roepke (1941). The mature larva is green or reddish brown.

The larva is darker above the dorsolateral line, obliquely striped below it near the abdomen of the brown form, There is a complete row of strong ocellar marks over the abdominal segments, that on A1 only slightly larger.

They are black, ringed with white or dirty white, that on A1 with the pupil ventrally green or purplish brown with the pale ring slightly broader.

Recorded host-plants (Bell & Scott, 1937; Dupont & Roepke, 1941; CIE records) are: Saurauia (Actinidiaceae); Dillenia, Tetracera (Dilleniaceae); Leea (Leeaceae); Psychotria, Rubia (Rubiaceae); Cissus, Vitis (Vitidaceae).