Rhagastis castor

Rhagastis castor
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Rhagastis
Species:	R. castor
Binomial name
	Rhagastis castor; (Walker, 1856)[1]
Synonyms
	Pergesa castor Walker, 1856; Rhagastis aurantiacus Rothschild, 1900; Rhagastis javanica Roepke, 1941; Rhagastis aurifera sumatranus Clark, 1924; Rhagastis aurifera chinensis Mell, 1922; Pergesa castor aurifera Butler, 1875;

Rhagastis castor is a moth of the family Sphingidae first described by Francis Walker in 1856.

Distribution

It is known from Nepal, north-eastern India, Thailand, southern China and Vietnam, Sumatra, Java and Taiwan.

Description

The wingspan is 53–84 mm. It is similar to Rhagastis acuta and Rhagastis velata but larger, the forewings and hindwings are more elongate. It is distinguishable by the combination of the dark connection between the marginal band and the basal area on the forewing underside and the well developed abdominal golden stripes. The forewing underside marginal area is joined to the basal area by a streak. The third postmedian line is marked by a series of large and conspicuous black vein dots. The forewing and hindwing median area has a conspicuous red or salmon pink flush.

R. c. castor dorsal view
R. c. castor ventral view

Biology

Larvae of subspecies R. c. aurifera have been recorded feeding on Amorphophallus and Vitis species in India. The larvae of subspecies R. c. formosana feed on Saurauia species.

Subspecies

Rhagastis castor castor (Sumatra and Java)
Rhagastis castor aurifera (Butler, 1875) (Nepal, north-eastern India, Thailand, southern China and Vietnam)[2]
Rhagastis castor formosana Clark, 1925 (Taiwan)[3]
Rhagastis castor jordani Oberthür, 1904 (southern China)[4]

R. c. aurifera, dorsal view
R. c. aurifera, ventral view
R. c. formosana, dorsal view
R. c. formosana, ventral view

References

"CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
Pittaway, A. R.; Kitching, I. J. (2018). "Rhagastis castor aurifera (Butler, 1875) -- Common mottled hawkmoth". Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
Pittaway, A. R.; Kitching, I. J. (2018). "Rhagastis castor formosana Clark, 1925 -- Common mottled hawkmoth". Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
Pittaway, A. R.; Kitching, I. J. (2018). "Rhagastis castor jordani Oberthür, 1904 -- Common mottled hawkmoth". Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic. Retrieved December 17, 2018.

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[1] "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2011-10-25.

[2] Pittaway, A. R.; Kitching, I. J. (2018). "Rhagastis castor aurifera (Butler, 1875) -- Common mottled hawkmoth". Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic. Retrieved December 17, 2018.

[3] Pittaway, A. R.; Kitching, I. J. (2018). "Rhagastis castor formosana Clark, 1925 -- Common mottled hawkmoth". Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic. Retrieved December 17, 2018.

[4] Pittaway, A. R.; Kitching, I. J. (2018). "Rhagastis castor jordani Oberthür, 1904 -- Common mottled hawkmoth". Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic. Retrieved December 17, 2018.