Collix ghosha Walker, 1862
 (one synonym : Collix subligata Warren, 1896)
EUPITHECIINI,   LARENTIINAE,   GEOMETRIDAE,   GEOMETROIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Collix ghosha
(Photo: courtesy of David Polluck, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario)

The Caterpillars of this species vary in colour from pink to green, but have a green head and pale stripes along the body. The caterpillars have been found feeding on plants in PRIMULACEAE, including:

  • Coralberry ( Ardisia species ), and
  • Viranga ( Embelia species),

    the early instars prefering to eat younger leaves.

    The caterpillars pupate in a sparse cocoon in a curled leaf of the foodplant.

    The adult moths are pale brown with a number of dark spots. The moths have a wingspan of about 2 cms.

    The eggs are laid singly on the leaves and twigs of a foodplant.

    The species occurs as several subspecies in the oriental tropics, including :

  • Borneo,
  • India,
  • Taiwan,

    as well as in Australia, having been caught in

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria, and
  • South Australia.

    Further reading:

    Satoru Tominaga,
    Hostplant of Collix ghosha Walker Geometridae, Larentiinae in Okinawa,
    Japan Heterocerists' Journal,
    Volume 25 (1998), p. 4.

    Francis Walker,
    Geometrites,
    List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
    Part 24 (1862), p. 1249, No. 4.

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    (updated 26 October 2009, 2 January 2021)