Anticarsia irrorata (Fabricius, 1781)
 (also known as Thermisia consueta Walker, 1869)
CALPINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Anticarsia irrorata
early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mount Molloy, Queensland)

Early instars of this Caterpillars of are pale green with an off-white line along the back, and two more along each side.

Anticarsia irrorata
early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mount Molloy, Queensland)

In later instars: the lower line each side is wider and contains reddish-brown lines, and the head develops a brown and white collar.

Anticarsia irrorata
later instar
(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mount Molloy, Queensland)

The caterpillars have been found feeding on

  • Phasey Bean (Macropitilum lathyroides, FABACEAE)

    Anticarsia irrorata
    head close-up of later instar
    (Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mount Molloy, Queensland)

    The caterpillar grows to a length of about 3.5 cms.

    Anticarsia irrorata
    pupa
    (Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mount Molloy, Queensland)

    The pupa is brown, with a length of about 2 cms. It is formed in a sparse cocoon in the leaf litter.

    Anticarsia irrorata
    (Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda, Queensland)

    The adult moth of this species is pale brown, with a number of darker dots and curving lines on the wings. One prominent line extends from the wingtip to the centre of the hind margin of each wing. In the natural posture of the moth: these lines are aligned and look like the midvein of a leaf. The wingspan is about 5 cms.

    Anticarsia irrorata
    underside
    (Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland)

    The underside is yellow with brown lines and a white spot under each wing.

    The species has been found in

  • Hong Kong,
  • India,
  • Philippines,
  • Thailand,

    and also in Australia in

  • Western Australia,
  • Northern Territory,
  • Queensland, and
  • New South Wales.

    Further reading :

    Johan Christian Fabricius,
    Exhibentes eorum Differentias Specificas,
    Species Insectorum,
    Hamburg & Kilonii : C.E. Bohnii, Volume 2 (1793), p. 506.

    Buck Richardson,
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 125.

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    (updated 13 July 2012, 6 October 2021, 7 April 2022)