Biology of Uresiphita reversalis (Guenee) and comparison with U. polygonalis maorialis (Felder) (Crambidae)

The biology of Uresiphita reversalis (Guenee) is described, and the unpublished thesis of Mulvay on Uresiphita polygonalis maorialis (Felder) is summarized, The biologies of the two species are identical in many regards, Eggs are cream colored and laid in overlapping clusters of up to 80, Larvae undergo five instars; they are brightly colored, gregarious, and aposematic, Pupae are dark brown, Overwintering usually occurs in the pupal stage, Adults are active nocturnally and are superficially similar, with dark brown forewings and light orange hind wings with brown markings along the outer margin, In contrast to larvae, adults of both species are suspected to be palatable to predators on the basis of their color, nocturnal activity, and absence of sequestered quinolizidine alkaloids in adults of U. reversalis, Both species are multivoltine, Larvae of U, reversalis are diurnally active but feed throughout the night under warm temperatures,