Acacia and AlbizziaLarva
"Has two forms. In the first the head is large and
roughly triangular, the segments of the body increase to
the fourth and then diminish gradually, and the third,
fourth, sixth and twelfth have each two obtuse dorsal
points. The fore part from the fourth segment is
generally inclined downwards at an angle with the rest
of the body and is with the underpays of a dark
greenish-brown colour. The rest is just that shade of
greenish-grey which the leaves assume when withered, and
is crossed by diagonal dark bands exactly representing
the spaces between the leaflets as a painter would paint
them—a most perfect disguise. The second form of the
larva differs in having the head furcate, while the
dorsal points are replaced by long spine-like processes.
The figure will give a better idea of the difference
than any description.......The butterfly resulting from
the larva with spines has a light male-mark ; that
resulting from the other a dark male-mark.......The two
forms of larva are never found together; the smooth type
of caterpillar is often found in quantities on one bush
.... the smooth caterpillar feeds on Acacia and Albizzia,
the spined one has never been found on any plant but
Acacia".. |
