RHAGASTIS BINOCULATA Matsumura, 1909

Female Rhagastis binoculata. Photo: © BMNH Male Rhagastis binoculata. Photo: © BMNH

TAXONOMY

Rhagastis binoculata Matsumura, 1909, Thous. Ins. Japan Suppl. 1: 39. Type locality: [Taiwan, Hsinchu Hsien], Hoppo [Peipu].


ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Adult Rhagastis binoculata, Taiwan. Photo: © Felix Lin.

Wingspan: 54--63mm.


ADULT BIOLOGY


FLIGHT-TIME

Taiwan: iii-x (Taipei); iii-v (Kaohsiung Hsien); vi (Nantou Hsien); vi (Tainan Hsien); viii (Nantou Hsien).


EARLY STAGES

OVUM:

LARVA:

Final instar larva of Rhagastis binoculata on <i>Hydrangea chinensis</i>, Taiwan. Photo: © Felix Lin.

PUPA:

Larval hostplants. Hydrangea chinensis (Hydrangeaceae; Felix Lin, pers. comm. 2006).


<i>Hydrangea chinensis</i>, Taiwan. Photo: © Felix Lin.

PARASITOIDS


LOCAL DISTRIBUTION

Taiwan: Tainan Hsien (Kuantzuling, 1000'); Nantou Hsien (Bukai; Puli); Hsinchu Hsien (Peipu); Kaohsiung Hsien (Shanping, 640m; nr. Tuona, 12km SE of Shanping, 750m); Taipei; Taipei Hsien (Fushan).


GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

Endemic to Taiwan.


Global distribution of Rhagastis binoculata. Map: © BMNH.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION


Return to Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic species list
© A.R. Pittaway & I.J. Kitching (The Natural History Museum, London)