Dear Dr Seow,
Is this a Besta Palm Dart please? Found the 5th instar caterpillar on the Elephant Grass.
Thanks,
Regards,
Cheng Ai
Dear Dr Seow,
Is this a Besta Palm Dart please? Found the 5th instar caterpillar on the Elephant Grass.
Thanks,
Regards,
Cheng Ai
Yes. It should be correct as a female Telicota besta.
The females are more difficult.
Not withstanding there seem some mislabelled images on the net.
T. linna female.
Rather pale, Veins across the HW band not dark-dusted.
Face & abdomen noticeably paler than others.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec..._female_02.jpg
T. colon female.
FW with spots of the band arranged in a stepladder arrangement as in the male.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...576a1d4c-2.jpg
The females of the next two are more often confused.
T. augias female.
HW more orange & uniform, the HW band not contrasted from the ground colour; veins lightly dark-dusted.
Abdomen mainly of the same orangey tone as the HW.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oeax9BCEjg...ias_female.jpg
T. besta female.
Yellower, the HW veins lightly dark-dusted.
HW band paler & contrasted from the ground colour.
Abdomen a little paler .
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEM0FaXJU..._female_01.jpg
TL Seow: Cheers.
Last edited by Psyche; 14-Dec-2020 at 12:33 PM.
Thanks Dr Seow.