Mocis alterna (Walker, 1858)
Bean Looper
(also known as : Euclidia nebuligera)
 CATOCALINAE ,   NOCTUIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley


(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The caterpillar has some of its prolegs missing, and moves in a looper fashion. It can have many colours varying from ream through brown to black, and might or might not have stripes. It is a pest on :

  • Green Beans ( Phaseolus species, FABACEAE ),
  • Alfalfa ( Lucerne: Medicago sativa, FABACEAE ), and
  • Soybeans ( Glycine max, FABACEAE ).


    Illustration 24 ,   Plate CCXXIII , Hampson 1903-1913,
    (Courtesy of Joe Kunkel, University of Massachusetts)

    The adult moth is brown, mottled with sinuous markings. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

    The eggs are laid singly. They are spherical with ribs, and green.

    The species is found in

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

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 47.6, pp. 65, 452.

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    (updated 6 August 2011)