Xanthodes transversa

Xanthodes transversa, the transverse moth or hibiscus caterpillar, is a moth of the family Nolidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.[1] It is found in India, Sri Lanka,[2] the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands, China, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Java, New Guinea, Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.[3]

Xanthodes transversa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nolidae
Genus:
Xanthodes
Species:
X. transversa
Binomial name
Xanthodes transversa
Guenée, 1852

Description

The wingspan of the female is 36 mm and male is 35–42 mm.[4] Palpi reddish brown and porrect (extending forward). Head, thorax and abdomen bright canary yellow. Vertex of thorax rufous. Legs reddish brown. Tibia with long hairs.[3] Forewings bright yellowish with distinct three brown arrow-shaped lines across each forewing. The caterpillars show remarkable color variations. A large bright rufous triangular patch is found over the whole outer area of the forewings. A black sub-apical speck visible. Cilia rufous. Hindwings reddish brown suffusion with rufous outer margin. The caterpillar is 35–40 mm in length.

It is a multivoltine moth species, where organism having more than two broods or generations per year.[5] The caterpillar is a pest on several economically important crops such as Hibiscus mutabilis, Hibiscus heterophyllus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibiscus splendens, Malvaviscus arboreus, Urena lobata,[6] Gossypium, okra (bhendi), Abelmoschus esculentus, Abelmoschus crinitus, Sida, Alcea rosea, Citrus, and Grewia tiliaefolia.[7][8]

References
  1. "Species Details: Xanthodes transversa Guenée, 1852". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. Koçak, Ahmet Ömer; Kemal, Muhabbet (20 February 2012). "Preliminary list of the Lepidoptera of Sri Lanka". Cesa News (79): 1–57 – via Academia.
  3. "Description of Xanthodes transversa". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  4. "フタトガリコヤガ Xanthodes transversa Guenée, 1852". みんなで作る日本産蛾類図鑑 [An Identification Guide of Japanese Moths Compiled by Everyone] (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  5. Shintani, Yoshinori; Kawazu, Kei; Hirose, Yuzuru (2015). "Photoperiodic induction of prepupal diapause and its role in synchronization with host phenology in the hibiscus caterpillar, Xanthodes transversa". Entomological Science. 18 (3): 360–367. doi:10.1111/ens.12135.
  6. Herbison-Evans, Don & Crossley, Stella (12 March 2017). "Xanthodes transversa Guenée, 1852". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  7. "Transverse moth host plants". ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  8. "Xanthodes transversa host plants". HOSTS. Retrieved 12 November 2018.


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