Xanthodes transversa

Xanthodes transversa Guenée, 1852
(one synonym : Trileuca dentalis Smith, 1891)
CHLOEPHORINAE, NOLIDAE, NOCTUOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Xanthodes transversa
early instar, magnified
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Hendry, Sheldon, Queensland)

The Caterpillars of this species are a puzzle. Some are green and hairy.

(Photo: courtesy of Jutta Godwin, Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network, Brisbane, Queensland)

Some have a yellow stripe along the back and along each side, and black splodges on each segment, and a red spot on the tail, which perhaps distracts predators away from the vulnerable head.

(Photo: courtesy of Jutta Godwin, Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network, Brisbane, Queensland)

Some are green with white and yellow spots. Some are brown with yellow spots.

(Photo: courtesy of Maria Rosenfelder, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland)

The answer is that successive instars of the caterpillars have somewhat different colour patterns.

The caterpillars have been found feeding on the leaves of various plants in the Hibiscus family ( MALVACEAE ) :

Cranberry Hibiscus ( Hibiscus acetosella ),

Australian Rosella ( Hibiscus heterophyllus ),

Garden Hibicus ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ),

Hollyhock Tree ( Hibiscus splendens ),

Turk's Hat ( Malvaviscus arboreus ),

Spearleaf Swampmallow ( Pavonia hastata ), and

Caesarweed ( Urena lobata ).

showing two different instars on the same bush
(Photo: courtesy of Arthur Stafford, taken near Biarra, Queensland)

The caterpillars grow to a length of about 4 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Jutta Godwin, Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network, Brisbane, Queensland)

The adult moths are yellow, with three brown arrow-shaped lines across each forewing. They have a wingspan of about 4 cms.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The species is found across south-east Asia including

and in Australia in

Queensland, and

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland)