Euchromia polymena

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Euchromia polymena
Euchromia polymena 01.JPG

Euchromia polymena

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Bear Moth (Arctiinae)
Genre : Euchromia
Type : Euchromia polymena
Scientific name
Euchromia polymena
( Linnaeus , 1758)

Euchromia polymena , also known as Sphinx polymena in older literature, is a butterfly from the subfamily of the bear moth (Arctiinae)that occurs in Asia and Australia.

features

butterfly

Euchromia polymena has a wingspan of 40 to 45 millimeters. The wings are black. The fore and hind wing upper sides are provided with large yellow to yellow-orange colored spots, which are traversed by some dark veins. A crescent-shaped blue discoidal spot stands out in the disk region of the elongated forewings . The wing root, like the head, is also colored blue. The collar is red. From the black abdomen, red rings stand out on the first, fourth and fifth segments, and blue rings on the second, third and sixth segments. The black antennae are combed in both sexes . The proboscis is well developed. In terms of wing shape and overall appearance, the moths resemble the rams (Zygaenidae).

egg

The eggs are cream-colored, shiny, and spherical in shape. They are placed in large groups on the underside of the leaf of a food plant.

Caterpillar

The caterpillars initially live gregariously after hatching. When fully grown, they live individually and reach a length of up to 35 millimeters. The reddish caterpillar body is covered with warts, from which short tufts of black hair protrude. Long dark hair brushes extend from the first two segments as well as the last. The small head capsule is black.

Doll

The pupation takes place in a light brown, hairy cocoon . The pupa is colored shiny light red-brown and shows two large black-brown eye spots on the head.

  • copula

  • Egg-laying female

  • Caterpillar

  • Doll in the cocoon

  • Exposed dolls

Similar species

Euchromia elegantissima is sometimes listed as a separate species . Because of the great similarity to Euchromia polymena , this is doubtful. Further investigations to clarify this are necessary.

Occurrence

Euchromia polymena occurs in India , Sri Lanka , China , Taiwan , Thailand , Myanmar , Malaysia , Indonesia , the Philippines and Australia .

Way of life

The diurnal moths fly in different frequencies throughout the year. They like to visit different flowers to take in nectar. The caterpillars' food plants are morning glories ( Ipomoea ).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Moths of Borneo
  2. ↑ inaturalist.org flight time and photos
  3. ↑ Markku Savela: Spreading and food plants. In: Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Retrieved March 13, 2020 .

literature

  • MS Palaniswami & KV Peter: Tuber & Root Crops , New India Publishing Agency, 2008, ISBN 978-81-89422-53-0 , p. 190

Web links

Commons : Euchromia polymena  - collection of images, videos and audio files