(Photo: courtesy of Daniel H. Janzen and the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The adult moths species are grey with various darker markings on each forewing, including a prominent dark square outlined in white near the centre. The hindwings are a uniform grey colour. The wingspan is about 2.5 cms.

undersode
(Photo: courtesy of Daniel H. Janzen and the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The species is one of a number used for the biological control of Lantana. It occurs naturally in the Americas, inncluding

and has been introduced deliberately into a number of countries, including :

as well as

The success of this species in controlling Lantana in these instances has not yet been established.

Further reading:

Achille Guenée,
Noctuélites,
in Boisduval & Guenée:
Histoire Naturelle des Insectes; Spécies Général des Lépidoptères,
Volume 9, Part 6 (1852), p. 317, No. 1127.

Francis Walker,
Noctuidae,
List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
Part 12 (1857), p. 800, No. 1.

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(updated 20 July 2010, 20 September 2017)