Daphnis placida

Daphnis placida is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Daphnis placida
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Daphnis
Species:	D. placida
Binomial name
Daphnis placida (Walker, 1856)[1]
Synonyms
Darapsa placida Walker, 1856 Choerocampa hesperus Boisduval, 1875 Daphnis andamana Druce, 1882 Daphnis angustans R. Felder, 1874 Daphnis horsfieldii Butler, 1876 Deilephila jamdenae Debauche, 1934 Daphnis torenia rosacea Rothschild, 1894

Distribution

It is known from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (including Borneo), the Solomon Islands and the northern half of Australia.

Description

The wingspan is about 60 mm. Adults have a complex pattern of light and dark brown on the wings and a white bar across the first abdominal segment. The outer margin of the forewing is more obviously excavated below the apex than in other Daphnis species.

• 
  Male dorsal
• 
  Male ventral
• 
  Female dorsal
• 
  Female ventral

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Alstonia constricta, Neisosperma kilneri and Tabernaemontana angustisepala. They are green with a pale stripe along each side of the back. There are some yellow markings on each side of the thorax. The caterpillar often has an “S” shaped reddish tail spine.[2]

Subspecies

• Daphnis placida placida
• Daphnis placida salomonis Rothschild & Jordan, 1906 (Solomon Islands)

References

1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience – Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
2. "Australian Insects". Lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.