Eudocima materna

Eudocima materna (Linnaeus, 1767)
(one synonym : Ophideres apta)
CATOCALINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

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

This moth is an agricultural pest, causing damage to Citrus and other fruit by piercing the fruit with its strong proboscis in order to suck the juice.

The Caterpillars feed on plants in the Moonseed family ( MENISPERMACEAE ), for example :

Snake Vine ( Tinospora smilacina ), and

Roundleaf Vine ( Legnephora moorei ).

(Photo: courtesy of John Moore, Karratha, Western Australia)

The adult moth has fawn forewings with a variable pattern of pale and dark lines and patches. The hind wings are bright yellow to orange, with a broad dark border and a dark spot in the middle. The moth has a wingspan of about 6 cms.

The species occurs in the tropics all around the world, including:

Canada,

French Antilles,

New Guinea,

U.S.A.,
as well as in Australia in:

Western Australia,

the Northern Territory,

Queensland, and

New South Wales,

Cuba 1979

Benin 1980

The moths are a pest, attacking fruit. It has a sharp proboscis that it uses to penetrate the fruit in order to suck the juices. After the fruit has been pierced, fungi and other microorganisms can enter the fruit and cause it to rot. The moth is is known to attack :

Oranges,

Lemons,

other Citrus, and

Lychees and Longans.

Control is being attempted using :

protective nets,

the larva-parasitoid wasp Euplectrus melanocephalus ( EULOPHIDAE ) and

the egg-parasitoid wasp Telenomus lucullus ( SCELIONIDAE ).