Page 640 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Pakistan, the Himalayas, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, China,
Japan, Chinese Taipei, northern Australia, and Melanesia
HABITAT Low- and medium-altitude mountains
HOST PLANTS Mallows (Malvaceae ), including Hibiscus spp., Okra (Abelmoschus
esculentus), Caesarweed (Urena lobata), and Hollyhock
(Alcea rosea)

NOTE Semi-looper caterpillar of regional agricultural signi cance
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but widely distributed and common

ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–1 ⁄ in (35–40 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1¾ in (40–45 mm)
XANTHODES TRANSVERSA
TRANSVERSE MOTH
638
GUENÉE, 1852

Early instar Transverse Moth larvae are green and well

camou aged against host plant foliage and spend most of the
time on the underside of leaves. Patterns and coloring change
as they develop, with each molt becoming more aposematic

(green, black, yellow, and red), and, by the nal (sixth) instar,

caterpillars spend all their time on the leaf surface. The nal
instar is also de ned by a vibrant red spot on the rear abdominal

segment, probably intended to distract potential predators
from the head end.

Pupation occurs underground, and, in the northern range,
caterpillars enter a prepupal diapause over the winter months.
Otherwise, the Transverse Moth is multivoltine (having two or
more broods annually) and completes larval development in
four to six weeks. The species is a recognized commercial pest
of Okra across its expansive range. The Xanthodes transversa
moth is yellow with a geometric pattern of angular brown lines
on the forewings.

The Transverse Moth caterpillar is a semi-looper,
with two pairs of prolegs plus anal claspers. It is
Actual size green in color with dorsal and lateral yellow
stripes, the latter incorporating the spiracles.
All abdominal segments bear a trio of black dots
either side of the midline, each the source of a
lengthy black seta, between black dashes. Lateral
setae are white. The head capsule is green with
black spots and a yellow brow, and the dorsum
of the rear segment is a vivid red.