Simplicia caeneusalis (Walker, [1859])
 (formerly known as Sophronia caenusalis)
HERMINIINAE
EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

This Caterpillar feeds on dead leaves, and is a pest in the tropics in roofs consisting of dried palm leaves.

Simplicia caeneusalis

The adult moth has a wing span of about 3 cms. It is brown with a straight pale line across the margin of each forewing, and a curved white line along the margin of each hindwing.

Simplicia caeneusalis
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The moths have long labial palps which are held curved up over the head.

Simplicia caeneusalis
close-up of head showing up-curved labial palps
(Photo: courtesy of Joan Fearn, Moruya, New South Wales)

This species has been reported in countries across Asia and the Pacific, including:

  • Cook Islands,
  • Hawaii,
  • Hong Kong (listed as Simplicia cornicalis),
  • India (listed as Simplicia cornicalis),
  • Thailand (listed as Simplicia cornicalis),

    and in eastern Australia in:

  • Queensland (listed as Simplicia cornicalis),
  • Norfolk Island, and
  • New South Wales.



    Norfolk Island, 1976.

    The species has been frequently confused with Nodaria cornicalis.

    Further reading;

    Francis Walker,
    Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera,
    List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
    Part 16 (1858), p. 94.

    previous
    back
    caterpillar
    Australian
    Australian Butterflies
    butterflies
    Australian
    home
    Lepidoptera
    Australian
    Australian Moths
    moths
    next
    next
    caterpillar

    (updated 7 April 2011, 30 May 2014, 9 April 2021)