Early stage of Borbo cinnara cinnara (Formosan Swift)

Introduction

Borbo cinnara is common in forest land and secondary growth in Peninsula Malaysia. In Singapore, it's caterpillar is commonly found in SBWR.

Early stage observation

The upperside wings are brown with golden hue, and with greenish hairs near basal areas, the underside has greenish scaling and there are spots in space 2, 3 and 6 on the hindwing.

On forewing there is yellow non-hyaline spot in space 1b, and there are decreasing hyaline spots in space 2 to 4 and 6 to 8, and two spots in the cell (one or both may be missing), while a few hyaline spots may be faintly visible on hindwing.

The caterpillar is found on Panicum maximum (Guinea Grass) in Singapore. Host plant include various Gramineae.

Egg surface smoth & half rounded, ~1mm in diameter, laid singly on either surface of younger leaf.

Final instar larva light green in color, there is a pair of white stripe on the caterpillar head capsule.

Pupa with girdle, cremaster is attached to a short transverse band, ~26mm in length, light green, with a pair longitudinal stripes each side of the midline dorsally.