Euclasta whalleyi Popescu-Gorj & Constantinescu 1973
(one synonym: Euclasta gigantalis Viette, 1957)
Rubber Vine Moth
PYRAUSTINI   ,     PYRAUSTINAE   ,     CRAMBIDAE

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


(Photo: courtesy of Alan Fletcher Research Station, Sherwood
Department of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland)

This species was introduced deliberately into Australia from Madagascar in 1992 in an attempt to control :

  • India Rubber vine ( Cryptostegia grandiflora, ASCLEPIADACEAE ).

    The Caterpillars are brown in colour with a row of orange dots along each side. They are tapered at both ends and grow to a length of about 3 cms. Their prescence is often indicated by their droppings hanging on threads from the food plant.


    (Photo: courtesy of Alan Fletcher Research Station, Sherwood
    Department of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland)

    The adult moths have very long legs and antennae.


    (Photo: courtesy of John Moore, Ravenshoe, Queensland)

    The forewings are brown, each with a pale stripe containing a black dot. The hindwings are silky white with a brown margin.


    (Specimen: courtesy of Alan Fletcher Research Station, Sherwood
    Department of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland)

    The eggs are white and rather flat. They are laid typically in overlapping masses of about 20 on the underside of a foodplant leaf.


    (Photo: courtesy of Alan Fletcher Research Station, Sherwood
    Department of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland)


    Further reading :

    Rachel E. Cruttwell McFadyen, Marie Vitelli & Catherine Setter,
    Host specificity of the rubber vine moth, Euclasta whalleyi Popescu-Gorj and Constantinescu (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Pyraustinae): field host range compared to that predicted in laboratory tests, Australian Journal of Entomology, Volume 41, part 4 (2002), pp. 321-323.

    J. Mo, M. Treviņo & W.A. Palmer,
    Establishment and distribution of therubbervine moth, Euclasta whalleyi Popescu-Gorj & Constantinescu (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) following its release in Australia, Australian Journal of Entomology, Volume 39 (2000), pp. 344-350.

    R.E. McFadyen & J.J. Marohasy
    A leaf-feeding moth, Euclasta whalleyi (Lep.:Pyralidae) for the biological control of Cryptostegia grandiflora(Asclepiadaceae) in Queensland, Australia, Entomophaga, Volume 35 (1990), pp. 431-435.


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    (updated 15 March 2008)