Appearance
In males, the head and thorax are brownish grey. Abdomen is greyish brown with the dorsal tufts on first six segments darker. Forewings are brownish grey with indistinct antemedial and postmedial pale waved lines. The submarginal series have rusty red spots with pale lunules inside them. Hindwings are whitish with the costal and inner areas are brownish. Both wings with a marginal series of pale and reddish-brown lunules. Ventral side is brown. The female is similar to the male but with uniformly brown hindwings. Larva dark reddish brown. A pale dorsal line can be seen. There are grey subdorsal streaks on the fourth and sixth somites. The terminal somite is swollen and carried over the back with two angular processes from the proximity. Anal prolegs are absent. Second and third leg pairs are long.
Naming
*"S. alternus alternus"⤷ "S. alternus brunneus"
⤷ "S. alternus niasicus"
⤷ "S. alternus nephodes"
⤷ "S. alternus melastomatis"
Habitat
The caterpillars feed on "Ricinus", "Careya", "Cajanus", "Cassia", "Ougeinia", "Pithecellobium" and "Wagatea" species. They are considered a pest on pulses, tea, coffee, rambutan and mango. The caterpillars have long legs and rear up when threatened and are sometimes called crab or lobster caterpillars.References:
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