Chalcocelis albiguttatus (Snellen, 1879)
(one synonym: Miresa fumifera Swinhoe, 1890)
LIMACODIDAE,   ZYGAENOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Chalcocelis albiguttatus
(Photo: courtesy of John Horstman, Sinobug, itchydogimages)

This caterpillar is green and dome-shaped, with several faint pale lines along the body. It has been found feeding on the foliage of many different plants, including:

  • Coconut ( Cocos, ARECACEAE ),
  • Coral Tree ( Erythrina, FABACEAE ),
  • Candlenut ( Aleurites, EUPHORBIACEAE )
  • Cloves ( Eugenia, MYRTACEAE ),
  • Chaulmoogra ( Hydnocarpus, SALICACEAE ),
  • Wattle ( Acacia, MIMOSACAE ),
  • Coffee ( Coffea, RUBIACEAE ), and
  • Gardenia ( Gardenia, RUBIACEAE ).

    Chalcocelis albiguttatus
    female
    (Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda, Queensland)

    The female adult moths have pale brown forewings, each with a big central rusty-brown patch containing a white spot. The hindwings and body are brown.

    Chalcocelis albiguttatus
    male
    Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, from
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art

    The males have a similar pattern but the fore and hind wings are much darker. The wingspan is about 2 cms.

    Chalcocelis albiguttatus
    male
    (Photo: courtesy of Bill Farnsworth, Innisfail, Queensland)

    There are various patches of raised scales on the wings which give it a cryptic appearance in its resting pose.

    Chalcocelis albiguttatus
    female, drawing by Pieter C. T. Snellen, listed as Limacodes albiguttatus
    ,
    Nieuwe Exotische Tineinen, Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, Volume 22 (1878), Plate 10, fig. 1,
    image courtesy of Biodiversity Heritage Library, digitized by Smithsonian Libraries.

    The eggs are translucent and flat. They are laid singly or in small groups on a foodplant.

    Chalcocelis albiguttatus
    male, drawing by R. Van Eeke, listed as Alba albiguttatus,
    De Heterocera van Sumatra VI, Zoologische Mededeelingen,
    Deel 12 (1929), p. 124, Plate XII, fig. 14.

    The species occurs across south-east Asia, including:

  • Borneo,
  • New Guinea,
  • Philippines
  • Thailand,

    and in Australia in:

  • Northern Territory,
  • Queensland, and
  • New South Wales.

    Chalcocelis albiguttatus
    undersides of wings of female, drawing by Pieter C. T. Snellen, listed as Limacodes albiguttatus
    ,
    Nieuwe Exotische Tineinen, Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, Volume 22 (1878), Plate 10, fig. 1,
    image courtesy of Biodiversity Heritage Library, digitized by Smithsonian Libraries.


    Further reading :

    Buck Richardson,
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 104.

    Pieter Cornelius Tobias Snellen,
    Lepidoptera van Celebes,
    Tijdschrift voor Entomologie,
    Volume 22 (1878), pp. 118-119, and also Plate 10, fig. 1.


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    (updated 20 July 2014, 22 March 2015)