Eupithecia rhodopyra (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Endemic

Larva		Larva in sit-and-wait position on fern frond
Adult			Note the large legs on the larva used for grasping prey. It also has two appendages at the tip of the abdomen (see E. orichloris) which act as triggers when touched by an insect -- at which point the caterpillar reaches back quickly and grabs the prey. E. rhodopyra larvae can be distinguished from E. orichloris by the dorsal brown stripe.

Host plants recorded from the Alaka`i Swamp:

• Dicranopteris linearis (Gleicheniaceae) Uluhe; Indigenous

Although a predator, this species is found only on live uluhe fronds.

Development time in the laboratory at 20°C:

• Larva: variable - 12 weeks in the lab with fairly regular feeding
• Pupa: 2-3 weeks

I only reared two of these to adulthood. Larval development time may be as long as that of E. orichloris (16 weeks). Development time of larva varies widely, as it depends on how often they eat. They can go several weeks without food, as long as they have water to drink (never a problem in the Alaka`i Swamp). I fed my caterpillars several adult Drosophila melanogaster 1-2 times per week.

Larval parasitoids recorded from the Alaka`i Swamp: