Taxonomy

The imaged specimen is from W. Malaysia, Frazer's Hill Gap. The holotype of Glanycus tricolor Moore, 1879:38 is from India (Darjeeling).

Description

32mm, This is another striking and distinctive black and red species. There is a large fenestra on the HW and a smaller one on the FW. The black body scales are tinged with metallic bluish green as are the main wing veins. Dorsally there is a red band at the base of the abdomen, another across the front of the thorax and red scale tufts at the end of the abdomen.

Distribution & Habitat

Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sikkim, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore. Lowland and hill forest and open areas; <900m.

Life History & Pest Status

The larvae feed on leaves of Canthium dicoccum (Rubiaceae), Schleffera octophylla (Araliaceae), Viburnum odoratissimum (Caprifoliaceae) and Eucalyptus gunnii (Myrtaceae); (HOSTS [Accessed Nov. 2008]). The purple larva is covered with slender tubercles and lives within a folded leaf held closed by silk. When disturbed it stridulates and will discharge an offensive fluid. (RTS:125). The photograph by John Moore (Plate 10, Fig. 293a & 294a) is remarkable, showing a male Glanycus tricolor trying to mate with a female Glanycus insolitus.

Similar spp.

See Plates