Xanthodes transversa

Xanthodes transversa, the transverse moth or hibiscus caterpillar, is a moth of the family Nolidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.^[1] It is found in India, Sri Lanka,^[2] the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands, China, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Java, New Guinea, Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.^[3]

Xanthodes transversa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Nolidae
Genus:	Xanthodes
Species:	X. transversa
Binomial name
Xanthodes transversa Guenée, 1852

Description

The wingspan of the female is 36 mm and male is 35–42 mm.^[4] Palpi reddish brown and porrect (extending forward). Head, thorax and abdomen bright canary yellow. Vertex of thorax rufous. Legs reddish brown. Tibia with long hairs.^[3] Forewings bright yellowish with distinct three brown arrow-shaped lines across each forewing. The caterpillars show remarkable color variations. A large bright rufous triangular patch is found over the whole outer area of the forewings. A black sub-apical speck visible. Cilia rufous. Hindwings reddish brown suffusion with rufous outer margin. The caterpillar is 35–40 mm in length.

It is a multivoltine moth species, where organism having more than two broods or generations per year.^[5] The caterpillar is a pest on several economically important crops such as Hibiscus mutabilis, Hibiscus heterophyllus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibiscus splendens, Malvaviscus arboreus, Urena lobata,^[6] Gossypium, okra (bhendi), Abelmoschus esculentus, Abelmoschus crinitus, Sida, Alcea rosea, Citrus, and Grewia tiliaefolia.^[7][8]

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