About Xanthodes transversa Guenée, 1852
Xanthodes transversa Guenée, 1852 has a wingspan of 36 mm in females, and 35–42 mm in males. Its palpi are reddish brown and porrect, meaning they extend forward. Head, thorax, and abdomen are bright canary yellow, while the vertex of the thorax is rufous. Legs are reddish brown, and the tibiae are covered in long hairs. Forewings are bright yellowish, marked with three distinct brown arrow-shaped lines running across each wing. A large bright rufous triangular patch covers the entire outer area of the forewings, a black sub-apical speck is visible, and the cilia are rufous. Hindwings have reddish brown suffusion, with a rufous outer margin. Fully grown caterpillars measure 35–40 mm in length and show remarkable color variations. This species is multivoltine, meaning individuals produce more than two broods or generations per year. Its caterpillars are pests of many economically important crops, including Hibiscus mutabilis, Hibiscus heterophyllus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibiscus splendens, Malvaviscus arboreus, Urena lobata, Gossypium, okra (bhendi, Abelmoschus esculentus), Abelmoschus crinitus, Sida, Alcea rosea, Citrus, and Grewia tiliaefolia.
