Homodes bracteigutta

Homodes bracteigutta (Walker, 1862)
(one synonym : Lophoruza chalcocosma)
CATOCALINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

Homodes bracteigutta
(Photograph: courtesy of the Bishop Museum, Hawaii)

This caterpillar is green or brown, and has a series of long protuberances that it keeps waving about, so that it resembles two ants talking to each other. The caterpillar has always been found in the company of similar ants of the genus:

Oecophylla ( FORMICINAE ).

(Photograph: courtesy of Darren Allen, Brisbane)

The caterpillar has been found on :

Rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum, SAPINDACEAE ),

Longan ( Dimocarpus longan, SAPINDACEAE ),

Carrotwood ( Cupaniopsis anacardioides, SAPINDACEAE ), and

Amyema conspicuum ( LORANTHACEAE ), and

Mango flowers ( Mangifera indica, ANACARDIACEAE ).

(Photograph: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The adult moth is brown with faint zigzag grey lines across the wings.

The species occurs in

Hong Kong,

Indonesia,

New Guinea,

Thailand,
and in Australia in:

Queensland.