Amata nigriceps (Butler, 1876)
 (one synonym : Hydrusa intensa Butler, 1876)
SYNTOMIINI,   CTENUCHINI,   ARCTIINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Amata nigriceps
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/CNC/CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The adult moth of this species is black with transparent windows in the wings, and has a black and yellow banded abdomen. The hind wings are only about half the span of the forewings. The male has a wingspan of about 3 cms. The female has a fatter abdomen than the male, but is smaller with a wingspan of only about 2.5 cms. The antennae of both sexes have white tips.

Amata nigriceps
mating pair
(Photo: courtesy of Nick Monaghan, Tewantin, Queensland)

The species has been found in

  • Singapore,

    as well as in Australia in

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

    Amata nigriceps
    (Photo: courtesy of Shizhen Wang, Parramatta River Park, New South Wales)

    There are thought to be more than one similar species being identified by the name Amata nigriceps.

    Further reading :

    Arthur G. Butler,
    Notes on the Lepidoptera of the family Zygaenidae, with descriptions of new genera and species,
    Journal of the Linnean Society of London,
    Zoology, Volume 12, 1876, pp. 352-353, No. 3.

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria - Part 2, 2nd edition,
    Tiger Moths and Allies - NOCTUOIDEA (A)    ,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2015, pp. 20-21, 28-29.

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    (updated 27 April 2008, 27 February 2024)