Sataspes tagalica Boisduval, [1875], in: Boisduval & Guenée, Hist. nat. Insectes (Spec. gén. Lépid. Hétérocères) 1: 378. Type locality: Philippines, Bourias [Burias].
Wingspan: 56--70mm. Variable, with several named forms, often from the same brood. A mimic of Xylocopa carpenter bees, with males and females mimicking different species of bee.
A day-flying moth attracted to the flowers of Duranta erecta and Lantana camara, usually from mid morning to early afternoon.
A species of woodland margins and shady tracks through woodland, particularly near bodies of fresh water (Li, 1994).
China: 28.iv (Zhejiang); vii (Guangdong; Hong Kong); 20.viii (Hong Kong); ix (Guangdong).
OVUM: Pale green, almost spherical (1.50 x 1.25 x 1.0mm). Hatches in about 4 days.
Laid singly on the underside (sometimes topside) of leaflets towards the tip of overhanging branches, with most deposited between one and two metres from the ground. It is rare to find more than one egg per branch. Preference is shown for hostplants that grow together among trees that provide shade (Li, 1994).
LARVA: Full-fed 40--65mm, width 9mm. The early stages have been well documented by Li (1994) from Hong Kong.
According to Bell & Scott (1937), in the final instar closely resembling that of S. infernalis, but differring in the face being green and rest of head whitish, while in S. infernalis the face is pale green and rest of head darker green. The oblique lateral stripes in S. tagalica yellowish, those on segments 6 and 11 strongest; horn green dorsally, yellow laterally.
The larva becomes somewhat translucent in appearance before pupation, which takes place in a cell underground.
The full life cycle takes about 45-51 days for males, about 58 days for females.
PUPA: 30--42mm, width 12.5mm. Very closely resembles that of S. infernalis, the only noticeable difference being that in S. tagalica the cremaster has lateral extensor ridges on the ventral surface, which run forwards to segment 11, and the cremaster ends in a simple point (Bell & Scott, 1937). Takes about 14 days to emerge.
Larval hostplants. The woody climber Dalbergia benthamii (Fabaceae) in Hong Kong (Li, 1994).
China: Zhejiang (Hangzhou); Hubei (Hefeng); Sichuan (Pengshui; Huili); Yunnan (Jinping; Xishuangbanna); south Xizang/Tibet (Mutu, Namjagbarwa region, 2000m (Wang, 1988); Bomi, 2000m); Hunan (Dayong; Henshan); Guangdong (Luofu Shan; Gunagzhou); Hong Kong (Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve; Aberdeen Reservoir); Hainan.
Western and northeastern India, Nepal, Burma/Myanmar, eastern and southern China and Thailand.
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