Odonestis vita is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae first described by Frederic Moore in 1859. Three former subspecies are now recognized as separate species.
Distribution It is found from the Indian subregion to Sundaland, Thailand, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Philippines.
Description The body is orange red. The forewings are short and more compact with irregular postmedial lines. The white discal spot and the fasciae are indistinct. Caterpillars are recorded from plants like Eugenia, Psidium and Lagerstroemia species.
Current subspecies In earlier classifications recorded six subspecies including the nominate race. However, recently O. v. belli, O. v. ceylonica and O. v. leopoldi were elevated to species level.
Subspecies Distribution Wingspan Larval food plants Odonestis vita brachyschalida Tams, 1935 Philippines: Mindanao 42 mm in male and 46 mm in female Odonestis vita indica Tams, 1935 North-eastern India. Recorded only by a damaged specimen. Odonestis vita vita Moore, 1859 Southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan), Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Sumatra, Java Smallest. 32–38 mm in male and 52 mm in female Lagerstroemia, Eugenia, Psidium, Syzygium jambos, Lagerstroemia speciosa, L. macrocarpa and Psidium guajava
Former subspecies Subspecies Distribution Wingspan Larval food plants Odonestis vita belli Tams, 1935 Coast of south-western India 45 mm in male, very similar to O. ceylonica Odonestis vita ceylonica Tams, 1935 Sri Lanka, southern India 36–43 mm in male and 56–58 mm in female Odonestis vita leopoldi Tams, 1935 Philippines: Luzon, Leyte 36–38 mm in male and 52 mm in female
References
External links Odonestis vita