RHAGASTIS BINOCULATA Matsumura, 1909

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

TAXONOMY

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

Synonym. Rhagastis varia Wileman, 1910.

Synonym. Rhagastis elongata Clark, 1937.

Synonym. Rhagastis albomarginatus sauteri Mell, 1958.


ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Wingspan: 54--63mm. Almost identical to Rhagastis albomarginatus dichroae, distinguishable only in the pinkish-grey (rather than greyish-buff) oval pale patch that divides the postmedian lines on the forewing upperside, between veins M2 and Cu2. Hindwing underside with a small black discal spot. Labial palp segment 2 longer than broad, not narrowed to base. Metanotum with a conspicuous tawny patch at each side.


Adult Rhagastis binoculata, Taiwan. Photo: © Felix Lin. Adult Rhagastis binoculata, Tianone (1200m), Yilan Hsien, Taiwan. Photo: © Shipher Wu.

ADULT BIOLOGY

Unknown.


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 [syn. Hydrangea angustipetala] (Hydrangeaceae; Felix Lin, pers. comm. 2006).


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

PARASITOIDS

Unknown.


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 (Yungmingshan National Park); Taipei Hsien (Fushan); Yilan Hsien (Tianone, 1200m).


GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

Endemic to Taiwan.


Global distribution of Rhagastis binoculata. Map: © NHMUK.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION


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