Rhagastis castor
{{Short description|Species of moth}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Rhagastis castor formosana (34318981256).jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Rhagastis
| species = castor
| authority = (Walker, 1856){{cite web|url=http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Rhagastis/castor.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024193632/http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Rhagastis/castor.html|archivedate=2012-10-24|url-status=dead |title=CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae |publisher=Cate-sphingidae.org |accessdate=2011-10-25}} {{PD-notice}}
| synonyms =
- Pergesa castor Walker, 1856
- Rhagastis aurantiacus Rothschild, 1900
- Rhagastis javanica Roepke, 1941
- Rhagastis aurifera sumatranus Clark, 1924
- Rhagastis aurifera chinensis Mell, 1922
- Pergesa castor aurifera Butler, 1875
}}
Rhagastis castor is a moth of the family Sphingidae first described by Francis Walker in 1856.
Distribution
Description
The wingspan is 53–84 mm. It is similar to Rhagastis acuta and Rhagastis velata but larger, the forewings and hindwings are more elongate. It is distinguishable by the combination of the dark connection between the marginal band and the basal area on the forewing underside and the well developed abdominal golden stripes. The forewing underside marginal area is joined to the basal area by a streak. The third postmedian line is marked by a series of large and conspicuous black vein dots. The forewing and hindwing median area has a conspicuous red or salmon pink flush.
Rhagastis castor castor MHNT CUT 2010 0 233 Diehl Sumatra male dorsal.jpg|R. c. castor dorsal view
Rhagastis castor castor MHNT CUT 2010 0 233 Diehl Sumatra male ventral.jpg|R. c. castor ventral view
Biology
Larvae of subspecies R. c. aurifera have been recorded feeding on Amorphophallus and Vitis species in India. The larvae of subspecies R. c. formosana feed on Saurauia species.
Subspecies
- Rhagastis castor castor (Sumatra and Java)
- Rhagastis castor aurifera (Butler, 1875) (Nepal, north-eastern India, Thailand, southern China and Vietnam){{cite web |last1=Pittaway |first1=A. R. |last2=Kitching |first2=I. J. |date=2018 |url=http://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/r_aur.htm |title=Rhagastis castor aurifera (Butler, 1875) -- Common mottled hawkmoth |website=Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic |accessdate=December 17, 2018}}
- Rhagastis castor formosana Clark, 1925 (Taiwan){{cite web |last1=Pittaway |first1=A. R. |last2=Kitching |first2=I. J. |date=2018 |url=http://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/r_for.htm |title=Rhagastis castor formosana Clark, 1925 -- Common mottled hawkmoth |website=Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic |accessdate=December 17, 2018}}
- Rhagastis castor jordani Oberthür, 1904 (southern China){{cite web |last1=Pittaway |first1=A. R. |last2=Kitching |first2=I. J. |date=2018 |url=http://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/r_jor.htm |title=Rhagastis castor jordani Oberthür, 1904 -- Common mottled hawkmoth |website=Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic |accessdate=December 17, 2018}}
Rhagastis castor aurifera MHNT CUT 2010 0 249 Malaysia dorsal.jpg| R. c. aurifera, dorsal view
Rhagastis castor aurifera MHNT CUT 2010 0 249 Malaysia ventral.jpg|R. c. aurifera, ventral view
Rhagastis castor formosana MHNT CUT 2010 0 233 Taiwan male dorsal.jpg|R. c. formosana, dorsal view
Rhagastis castor formosana MHNT CUT 2010 0 233 Taiwan male ventral.jpg|R. c. formosana, ventral view
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar |from=Q2367039}}
Category:Moths described in 1856
Category:Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist)
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