Hyposidra talaca (Walker, 1860)
 (one synonym : Lagyra bombycaria Walker, 1866)
BOARMIINI,   ENNOMINAE,   GEOMETRIDAE,   GEOMETROIDEA
  
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley


early instar
(Photograph: courtesy of the Bishop Museum, Hawaii)

This Caterpillar is initially a black looper with rings of white spots. The caterpillars are subject to attack by parasites.


caterpillar with a tick, magnified
(Photograph: courtesy of Harold McQueen, Goodna, Queensland)

Late instars are plain brown.


late instar
(Photograph: courtesy of the Tea Research Association of INDIA, Nagrakata Branch, West Bengal)

It is polyphagous, eating the foliage of many plants including the crops

  • Mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana, CLUSIACEAE ),
  • Cacao ( Theobroma cacao, MALVACEAE ),
  • Coffee ( Coffea arabica, RUBIACEAE ), and
  • Tea ( Camellia sinensis, THEACEAE ),

    which makes it a pest in Tea plantations.


    (Photograph: courtesy of the Tea Research Association of INDIA ( Nagrakata Branch, West Bengal ))

    The adult moths are brown with a subtle pattern. The forewings have pointed wingtips and wavy margins. The moths have a wingspan of about 4 cms.

    The species is found across south-east Asia, including

  • Hong Kong,
  • India,
  • New Guinea,
  • Philippines,
  • Sri Lanka, and
  • Thailand,

    and in Australia in

  • Queensland
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Francis Walker,
    Geometrites,
    List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
    Part 20 (1860), p. 59, No. 1.

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    (updated 1 April 2011, 6 January 2014, 25 August 2020, 8 March 2021)