Caterpillars of the
World - Singapore
Pacific
Fruit-piercing moth
Othreis fullonia
CLERCK, 1764
Family - NOCTUIDAE
subfamily -
CATOCALINAE
Tribe - CALPINI
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Othreis fullonia,
Singapore
© Gan
Cheong Weei |
Introduction
To
be completed.
Habitats
This is a widespread
and common species found throughout much of tropical Asia and
Australasia. It is found in forests, orchards, parks, gardens and
many other habitats at altitudes between sea level and about
1000m.
Lifecycle
The very strange
looking larva feeds on creepers including
Tinospora, Tiliacora,
Stephania and
Triclisia ( Menispermaceae ); and on
Erythrina ( Fabaceae ).
The
larvae
normally rest on the underside of leaves where they go unnoticed
by predators, but if threatened in any way they react by lifting
the tail and arching up and bloating the front segments. They then
rock aggressively from side to side, "threatening" the perceived
enemy with prominent false eyes.
Adult
The
moth bears the typical markings of the Catocalinae ( Underwing
moths ), the triangular forewings being marked in a bark-like
pattern, while the hindwings are bright yellow, marked with black.
This is an example of "flash coloration", a defence against avian
predators. If a foraging bird accidentally disturbs it the moth
takes flight, and the bird chases after what appears to be a
bright yellow moth, but as soon as Othreis
settles on a tree trunk it covers the hindwings beneath the
bark-like forewings and becomes virtually invisible. The bird
continues to look for the yellow "search image" and the moth
survives.
The adult moth is a
serious pest in Asia, feeding on the juices of many commercially
grown fruits. It's proboscis is about 2.5cms long, and strong
enough to pierce the skin of
apples, apricots,
bananas, figs, grapefruit, guava, kiwifruit, mangoes,
melons, oranges,
papaya, passion fruit, peaches, pineapple, star fruit
and tomatoes. Fruit damaged by the
moth becomes soft, mushy
and unsaleable. Additionally the moth is a
known vector of Oospora citri, a
fungus that rots the fruit.
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