DISTRIBUTION:

Isognathus australis (Wing span: males: 70mm; females larger than males), flies in northeastern Brazil (specimen type locality) where it is endemic.

Narrower winged than either Isognathus rimosa rimosa or Isognathus rimosa papayae. 31 mm.

Forewing upperside generally brown, shaded with white; colour contrast less than in Isognathus rimosa rimosa and Isognathus rimosa papayae; all white markings finer than in Isognathus rimosa papayae, the prominent white basal tuft of the latter instead light brown and inconspicuous; black streak M3 and CuA1 very narrow, just 3 mm long; a second, 2 mm long, narrow streak, between CuA1 and CuA2, runs diagonally distad from the first.

Forewing upperside unicolorous brown, except for a yellow band along the posterior margin, narrowing distally; faint traces of a distal marginal band. Hindwing upperside marginal band intermediate in width between those of Isognathus rimosa rimosa and Isognathus rimosa papayae.

Yellow basal area of hindwing underside extending from M3 to anal angle; otherwise brown with a bluish tinge, becoming black towards the anal angle; discal lines obscure. CATE

FLIGHT TIMES:

There are probably several flights throughout the year. The male depicted above was taken in January.

ECLOSION:

Moths emerge from pupae in thin-walled cocoons under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at flowers, including petunia.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Females probably lay eggs on Frangipani (Plumeria species).

Larvae pupate in cocoons spun amongst leaf litter.

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