The egg was laid on Tarenna attenuata at Chung Hom Kok, Hong Kong.
The ovum was 1.1 mm diameter.
Most of the ova were laid just below new leaf buds on different branches.

The new larva was less than 3 mm long.  It hatched 2 days after laying.
The second image is the same larva, 4 days later (April 6, 2002);
it was 6.4 cm / 0.25 inch long.

2nd instar changed on April 8, 2002;
This image is 3 days later.
length was about 1.7 cm / 0.67 inch.

This final instar larva was about 5 cm / 2 inches long; April 18, 2002.
It turned out to be a female; the male larva is about 25% smaller.
The larva underwent a color change (brown) before pupation.

Pupation would normally take place in leaf litter on the ground
or in the ground itself.  Pupa formation took 3 days,
from April 20-22, 2002.

Two views of the ex-pupa male moth at rest.  The male has a tail "brush"
which he spreads when disturbed and sometimes while flying.
The yellow-brown wing color is actually more greyish and is
due to the presence of wing scales, most of which fall off soon after
the moth starts flying, giving it the "clear-wing" look of the female below.

Top and Underside views of moth;
Wingspan is about 67 mm / 2.6 inch
The male is slightly smaller.
 
 

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This page last updated 10-May-2002.