Albizia Defoliator Noctuid Moth

Description:

Brown moth, about 12-13mm in length (from tip of snout to tip of abdomen). Rhesala Walker, 1858, of family Noctuidae, subfamily Calpinae. The spotting looks a lot like Rhesala imparata Walker, 1858, an Albizia defoliator, although I could not find any Philippine record of this species. Another species, Rhesala moestalis (Walker, 1866) is found in Southeast Asia (accdg to Wikipedia). Rhesala moestalis is found throughout subtropical Africa, from Sierra Leone in the west to Somalia in the east and South Africa in the south. It is also found on most of the African Indian Ocean islands, and in South and Southeast Asia. They have a wingspan of 14-20mm. The larvae feed on Fabaceae species, such as Acacia mellifera, Acacia tortilis and Albizia lebbeck. In India they have been recorded as a pest of nursery and young shade trees in tea plantations with a preference for Albizia odoratissima, Albizia procera, and Albizia lebbeck.

Habitat:

Backyard, spotted on the underside of a Heliconia leaf.

Notes:

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhesala, http://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-15-16/.... Rhesala moestalis image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/83520193@N0...