Eutrichopidia latinus (Donovan, 1805)
Yellow-banded Day-moth
 (previously known as Phalaena latina)
AGARISTINAE,   NOCTUIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Eutrichopidia latinus
(Photo: courtesy of Steve Williams, Moths of Victoria - Part 8)

The Caterpillars of this species are black, with sparse long white hairs, and have a pattern of orange and white markings on the back of each segment, and a row of mis-shapen pale yellow spots on the sides of each segment. The final segment has red and white dorsal markings. When distubed, a caterpillar will lift the front of the body, and curl the head underneath.

The caterpillars have been found feeding on :

  • Hoary Guinea Flower ( Hibbertia obtusifolia, DILLENIACEAE ), and on
  • Raspwort ( Gonocarpus teucrioides, HALORAGACEAE ).

    Eutrichopidia latinus
    (Photo: courtesy of Steve Williams, Moths of Victoria - Part 8)

    The pupa is brown, with a blunt end at the tip of the abdomen, and orange markings around each spiracle.

    Eutrichopidia latinus
    (Photo: courtesy of Lorna Bloom, Mudgee, New South Wales)

    The adult moths of this species are black, with a broad diagonal band across each forewing. This band is varied in colour: anywhere from white through yellow to orange. The hindwings have a white margin containing black dots. The abdomen is tipped with a tuft of orange hairs, and the forelegs have orange hair tufts.

    Eutrichopidia latinus
    (Photo: courtesy of Christine Darwood, Booth, Australian Capital Territory)

    The moths are inclined to rest head downward. The moths have a wingspan of about 4.5 cms.

    Eutrichopidia latinus
    (Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

    The species is found along the eastern side of Australia, including:

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria,
  • Tasmania, and
  • South Australia.

    Eutrichopidia latinus
    underside
    (Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 22.28, p. 464.

    Edward Donovan,
    General Illustration of Entomology,
    An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite and other Islands in the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans,
    Volume 1 (1805), p. 146, and also Plate p. 144.

    Peter B. McQuillan, Jan A. Forrest, David Keane, & Roger Grund,
    Caterpillars, moths, and their plants of Southern Australia,
    Butterfly Conservation South Australia Inc., Adelaide (2019), pp. 171-172.

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria - Part 8,
    Night Moths and Allies - NOCTUOIDEA(B)    ,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2017, pp. 32-33, 34-35.

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    (updated 11 April 2013, 9 February 2018, 9 May 2020, 20 August 2020, 19 March 2021)