Sataspes tagalica
Appearance
Sataspes tagalica | |
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From Lionel de Nicéville's 1900 "On new and little-known Lepidoptera from the Oriental region" | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Sphingidae |
Genus: | Sataspes |
Species: | S. tagalica
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Binomial name | |
Sataspes tagalica | |
Synonyms | |
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Sataspes tagalica, the brilliant carpenter-bee hawkmoth, is a species of moth of the family Sphingidae first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1875.
Distribution
It is known from western and north-eastern India, Nepal, Myanmar, eastern and southern China and Thailand.[2] The habitat consists of woodland margins and shady tracks through woodland, particularly near bodies of fresh water.
Description
The wingspan is 56–70 mm. It is a variable species with several named forms. It is a mimic of Xylocopa carpenter bees, with males and females mimicking different species.
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Male dorsal view
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Male ventral view
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Female dorsal view
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Female ventral view
Biology
It is a day-flying species. Adults are attracted to the flowers of Duranta erecta and Lantana camara.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on Dalbergia benthamii in Hong Kong.
References
- ^ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ Pittaway, A. R.; Kitching, I. J. (2018). "Sataspes tagalica tagalica Boisduval, [1875] -- Brilliant carpenter-bee hawkmoth". Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic. Retrieved December 17, 2018.