Imber tropicus (Moulds, 1983)
 (formerly known as Langia tropicus)
SMERINTHINAE,   SPHINGIDAE,   BOMBYCOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans,
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley


(Photo: courtesy of Joss & Craig Dunster, Derby, Western Australia)

The early instars of this Caterpillar are pale green, with lots of white warts and a brownish straight tail spike which is about twice as long as the body width.


caterpillar with a foot fetish
(Photo: courtesy of Joss & Craig Dunster, Derby, Western Australia)

The last instar only has warts on the head, thorax and claspers. The mature caterpillar has a white line along each side, and a narrow white or pink band between segments. There are also pink tubercles around the head and claspers,. and it has a very short pink horn on the tail.


(Photo: courtesy of Joss & Craig Dunster, Derby, Western Australia)

The caterpillar has been found feeding on plants in STERCULIACEAE, such as

  • Red Flame Tree (Brachychiton paradoxus).

    The caterpillars grow to a length of about 7 cms. They pupate underground if the soil is friable, at a depth of about 12 cms. Otherwise they pupate in crevices or ground debris. The pupa is dark brown, and has a length of about 4.5 cms.


    Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, from
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art

    The wings of the adult moths of this species have a greyish brown pattern, The forewings have scalloped margins, and have a recurved hind margins. The hindwings have a recurved margin near the tornus. The moths have a wingspan of about 8 cms. In its resting position, the moth is inclined to curve its abdomen upward.


    male
    (Photo: courtesy of David Knowles, Broome, Western Australia)

    The species occurs across the tropical north of Australia, including

  • Western Australia,
  • Northern Territory, and
  • Queensland.


    (Photo: courtesy of Axel Hausmann, SNSB, Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen)

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 42.4, p. 416.

    Maxwell Sydney Moulds,
    A new species of Langia Moore (Lepidotera: Sphingidae) from northern Australia,
    Australian Entomological Magazine,
    Volume 10, Part 5 (1983), p. 75.

    Maxwell S. Moulds, James P. Tuttle and David A. Lane.
    Hawkmoths of Australia,
    Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Series, Volume 13 (2020),
    pp. 160-163, Plates 36, 79, 88 .

    Buck Richardson,
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 206 (listed as Imber tropicus).

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    (updated 8 November 2011, 14 December 2013, 30 December 2015, 19 February 2016, 29 March 2020)