Dysodia viridatrix ssp. 2 Walker
- Family: Thyrididae
- Subfamily: Thyridinae
- Genus: Dysodia
- Distribution: Sri Lanka, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Habitat: Lowland.
- Wing Length: 32mm
Taxonomy
The image is of Ssp. 2, unnamed; Vietnam, Phan Rang, Nha Ho. The female holotype of Eutelia viridatrix Walker, [1858] 1856:1777 from North Hindustan is in the NHM (Mi7286).
Description
An attractive velvety green-brown species with some paler yellowish areas. Probably a leaf mimic. There is a triangular fenestra on the HW (almost absent in the imaged specimen). The wings are deeply scalloped near the tornus. It is variable with three sspp., two unnamed. Ssp. viridatrix Walker, [1858] 1856, S. & N. India. Ssp. 1, unnamed, Sri Lanka. Ssp. 2, unnamed, Vietnam (illustrated.)
Similar Species
See D.siccifolia which has very narrow HW fenestrae.
Life History
The larva feeds on webbed Capparis leaves especially Capparis foetida, C. pyrifolia, C. spinosa & C. sepiaria (Capparidaceae) (HOSTS [Accessed Nov. 2008]), from within an oval shelter of webbing covered with woody particles and thorns. It has a strong unpleasant smell and it pupates in a cocoon within this larval shelter (RTS: 125).