Aedia arctipennis (Hulstaert, 1924)
(one synonym : Catephia canescens Hampson, 1926)
ACRONICTINAE,   NOCTUIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Aedia arctipennis
(Photo: courtesy of Graham McDonald, Burleigh Beach, Queensland)

This Caterpillar is speckled grey with yellow stripes outlined in black running from on its head to its tail. There is a white spot near its tail. The head is grey with black dots. The caterpillar grows to a length of about 3 cms. It has been found feeding on

  • Goatsfoot Convolvulus ( Ipomoea pes-carpae, CONVOLVULACEAE ).

    Aedia arctipennis
    cocoon and pupa
    (Photo: courtesy of Graham McDonald, Burleigh Beach, Queensland)

    Pupation occurs in a tough cocoon under the soil.

    Aedia arctipennis
    (Photo: courtesy of Graham McDonald, Burleigh Beach, Queensland)

    The adult moth has fawn coloured forewings with a vague pattern, and off-white hindwings with broad black submarginal bands. The undersides of the wings are white with broad black marginal bands, and the forewing undersides also each have a black dot near the middle. The moth has a wingspan of about 3 cms.

    Aedia arctipennis
    (Photo: courtesy of Graham McDonald, Burleigh Beach, Queensland)

    The species is found in coastal areas of

  • Western Australia,
  • Northern Territory,
  • Queensland, and
  • Tasmania.


    Further reading

    R. P. Gustaaf Hulstaert,
    New Indo-Australian Noctuidae,
    Annals and Magazine of Natural History,
    Series 9, Volume 13 (1924), p. 123.

    Graham J. McDonald,
    Life History Notes on the noctuid moth Aedia Actipennis, Hulstaert 1924 Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Aediinae,
    Butterflies and Other Invertebrates Club,
    Metamorphosis Australia,
    Issue 66 (September 2012), pp. 12-14.


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    (updated 9 October 2012, 15 December 2017, 1 June 2020)