Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Sphingidae Scientific name Rhagastis castor | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Rhagastis Rank Species | |
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Similar Rhagastis, Eupanacra mydon, Cechenena helops, Elibia dolichus, Theretra clotho | ||
Rhagastis castor is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is known from Nepal, north-eastern India, Thailand, southern China and Vietnam, Sumatra, Java and Taiwan.
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 fore- and hindwing median area has a conspicuous red or salmon pink flush.
Larvae of ssp. aurifera have been recorded feeding on Amorphophallus and Vitis species in India. The larvae of ssp. formosana feed on Saurauia species.