The caterpillars feed on the flesh underneath the leaves leaving the upper skin intact.

The species was introduced into Hawaii in an attempt to control that weed, and then in 1965 into Australia.

(Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Mission Beach, Queensland)

The adult moth has brown patterned forewings. The wingspan is about 2.5 cms.

The species was originally found in Africa and Asia, including

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 44.7, pp. 72, 448.

Ebbe S. Nielsen, Edward D. Edwards, & T.V. Rangsi (eds),
Checklist of Australian Lepidoptera, CSIRO Publishing, 1996, pp. 294, 338, 371.

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(written 6 March 2005, updated 2 December 2012)