Favoritos de kitlaw

The color pattern on the body is quite variable, only reliable differences for the caterpillar is the head shell in 5th instar, this species is white and the other species is green https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82617708

This larvae was collected at the same time with the linked caterpillar above, 15 m apart from each other, both in their 4th instar, pupated 2 days apart, but this one took one month in diapause...

It was found on and feeds on Dalbergia hancei, but also accepted Dalbergia benthamii when no D.hancei is available

Hummingpillar #2 reared

14 April 2020:

Collected caterpillar on Coprosma repens in the garden in Kleinmond.

18 April 2020:

I am intrigued by the colour variations common in Sphingidae, in this species I've witnessed a green form and a pinkish-brown one. I decided to keep this caterpillar in a tub with a bright orange lid to see if that might make any difference. Answer is none, in this case.

22 April 2020:

Caterpillar did some messy cocooning and releasing of fluids at the bottom of its tub, then rested for a couple of days.

24 April 2020:

Caterpillar pupated.

14 May 2020:

I caught the freshly emerged moth just in time to witness the unfoldening of the wings, life affirmingly perfect and magical as always.

adult emerged, adults really similar to H.tritonaria, the shape of the head seems to be a stable feature to seperate from H. marina though.
More details see
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79086886

A different morph, adult emerged, adults really similar to H.tritonaria, the shape of the head seems to be a stable feature to seperate from H. marina though.
More details see
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79086886

on 細葉榕 Ficus microcarpa,

photo on:

20200323 x 2

20200325 x 3

20200327 x 4

20200328 x 5

20200331 x 5

20200402 x 7

20200404 x 7

20200407 x 1 (pre-pupa)

20200409 x 1 (pupa)

20200413 x 1

20200419 x 1

20200420 x 4 (adult)