Heortia vitessoides Moore, [1885]; PED 6
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Taxonomy
The holotype of Tyspana vitessoides Moore, (1885b [30 Oct]: 256, pl. 178, figs. 3, 3a) is from Sri Lanka.
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Description
Wing length : 16mm. A common member of a very distinctive group of spp.. These black, white and yellow Heortia spp. are mimics of the aposomatic Vitessa spp. (Pyralinae) See RTS: 176.
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Distribution & Habitat
Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Thailand, Laos, W.Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Bali, Lombok, Irian Jaya) E. Timor, PNG, Australia (Q), Fiji. China (S. Yunnan, Hong Kong), Taiwan. Lowland & lower montane primary & disturbed forest, scrub and disturbed areas; <1800m.
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Life History & Pest Status
The sparsely hairy larvae feed communally in webs mainly at night. They bind leaves together, They have a pale green black head with irregular black longitudinal markings one on each side of a series of black dots. The two lines come together on the anal segmemt where blackish markings are suffused with metallic blue. Foodplants include: Aquilaria crassna, A. microcarpa, Lagetta lagetto, Phaleria capitata, Phaleria lanceolata? Gyrinops spp. and other Thymelaeaceae. They are also reported to feed on some Rhus spp. (Anacardiaceae).
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Similar spp.
Heortia spp.
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Unrelated Look-alikes
Vitessa hieratica, V. muluana, V. plumosa, V. pyraliata, V. suradeva
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References
Moore, F. (1885b [30 Oct]) Heterocera, Lepid. Ceylon, 11: 177-304, pl. 172-181. L. Reeve & Co., London.
RTS (1994): 170, pl. 26, fig.20. -
Genitalia
no content available.
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DNA Barcode
no content available.
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3D Imaging
no content available.
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Spare
no content available.
KEY TO TABS
(1) Taxonomy, (2) Description, (3) Distribution & Habitat, (4) Life History & Pest Status, (5) Similar spp., (6) Unrelated Look-alikes, (7) References, (8) Genitalia, (9) DNA Barcode, (10) 3D Imaging, (11) Spare