Marumba Spectabilis

''Marumba spectabilis'', the rosey swirled hawkmoth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1875.

Distribution

It is known from Nepal, north-eastern India, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sarawak) and Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi).

Description

The wingspan is 94–118 mm. It is more rufous brown than other ''Marumba'' species. There is a strong tornal loop on the forewing upperside, as well as weak and irregular bands. There is a large orange-tawny area on the posterior part of the forewing underside. A similar orange-tawny patch is found on the termen close to tornus on the hindwing underside.

Marumba spectabilis MHNT CUT 2010 0 122 Chiang Mai Thailand male dorsal.jpg, Male dorsal
Marumba spectabilis MHNT CUT 2010 0 122 Chiang Mai Thailand male ventral.jpg, Male ventral

Biology

There are three generations per year in northern Guangdong.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on ''Meliosma rigida''. They are bright yellowish green above the spiracles, with yellow tubercles. Below the spiracles, the body is watery green with white tubercles, separated from the dorsal part by a bright yellow subspiracular stripe that is edged ventrally by brown, most intense on the thorax, weak or absent over the abdominal segments. The oblique bands are formed by yellow or red tubercles. The horn is bright green.

Subspecies

*''Marumba spectabilis spectabilis''
*''Marumba spectabilis malayana'' Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Sundaland)

Marumba spectabilis malayana MHNT CUT 2010 0 122 Malaisia dorsal.jpg, Male ''M. s. malayana'', dorsal view
Marumba spectabilis malayana MHNT CUT 2010 0 122 Malaisia ventral.jpg, Male ''M. s. malayana'', ventral view

References

Marumba
Moths described in 1875

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