Classification: | Phylum: Arthropoda | Class: Insecta | Order: Lepidoptera | Family: Erebidae | Genus: Lymantria |
This moth was found at the top end region of a young tree (Heritiera littoralis), about 2 metres above ground level. I did not realize that it was actually laying eggs until I inspected the photos back home. The left photo below showed the position of the moth and the eggs while the right one showed the close-up view of the eggs found at the rear end of the moth.
I went back 4 days later to inspect the eggs hoping to find the caterpillars. But, the eggs were not hatched yet. The moth had laid 2 clusters of eggs.
After another 4 days, a total of 8 days after I saw the moth, the lower cluster of the eggs had hatched. No hatching was observed yet from the upper cluster.
After another 4 days, all the eggs had hatched but most caterpillars were gone. I was only able to find around 5 of them hidden under the leaves. The caterpillars did not seem to be feeding on this plant.