Wasp Moths, Handmaidens ARCTIINAE, EREBIDAE, NOCTUOIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
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The Caterpillars of the CTENUCHINI are mostly covered uniformly in dark hairs. The hairs can cause Urticaria in sensitive people. The Caterpillars typically feed and move about during the daytime.
They pupate in a cocoon made of silk with their hairs matted together.
The adults are small to medium in size, with hindwings that are half the span of the forewings. The wings are black with translucent orange spots. The adult moths of many species in this subfamily fly during daylight hours. The female moths have a fatter abdomen, but a smaller wingspan than the males. In this subfamily: typically the antennae of the female moths are serrated, and the antennae of the males have pectinations.
Many species in this subfamily have tranverse bands alternating in orange and black on the abdomen. These moths appear to mimic many stinging wasp species, hence their name 'Wasp Moths', although the moths themselves cannot sting. However the coloration may denote a hazard as the moths are poisonous if eaten. Either way: the orange and black bands on the abdomen may give protetion from predators such as birds.
The 53 named Australian members of this tribe are:
Amata annulata
Amata antitheta
Amata aperta : Pale Spotted Tiger Moth
Ceryx guttulosa
Ceryx sphenodes
Eressa angustipenna
Eressa geographica
Eressa megalospilia
Eressa megatorna
Eressa paurospila
Eressa rhysoptila
Eressa strepsimeris
Euchromia aemulina
Euchromia creusa
Euchromia lurlina
Euchromia polymena
ARCTIINAE tribe | butterflies | Lepidoptera | moths | ARCTIINAE tribe |
(updated 12 June 2014, 16 June 2024)