Agrioglypta excelsalis (Walker, 1866)
 (previously known as Glyphodes excelsalis)
SPILOMELINAE,   CRAMBIDAE,   PYRALOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans,
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley


(Photo: courtesy of Ian Common, from Moths of Australia)

The Caterpillars of this moth feed on the leaves of native Figs ( Ficus, MORACEAE ), eg:

  • Sandpaper Fig ( Ficus coronata ),
  • Morton Bay Fig ( Ficus macrophylla ), and
  • Sweet Fig ( Ficus opposita ),

    living in a shelter of leaves joined together by silk.


    (Photo: courtesy of John Moore)

    The adult is white, with a striking brown pattern. It may be distinguished from Agriglypta itysalis by having a white margin on each of the wings. The moth has a wingspan of about 2 cms.


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

    It is found over tropical south-east Asia and the south Pacific, including

  • Bhutan,
  • New Guinea,
  • Thailand,

    as well as in Australia in

  • Western Australia,
  • Queensland, and
  • northern New South Wales.


    underside
    (Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland)

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, Plates 9.28, 26.3, p. 355.

    Peter Hendry,
    The Night of the Crambidae,
    Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club Newslettter, Issue 49 (June 2008), pp. 26-29.

    Buck Richardson,
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 31.

    Francis Walker,
    Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera,
    List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
    Part 34 Supplement 4 (1866), p. 1360.

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

    (updated 21 January 2008, 1 February 2013, 3 December 2020)