CTENUCHINI in Australia
Wasp Moths, Handmaidens
ARCTIINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
  
  
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

CTENUCHINI

caterpillars
  
CTENUCHINI

pupae
  
CTENUCHINI

moths
  
CTENUCHINI

undersides
  
CTENUCHINI

forewings

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

  • Amata atricornuta
    Amata bicolor
    Amata chlorometis
    Amata choneutospila
    Amata chroma
    Amata chromatica
  • Amata cyanura
    Amata dyschlaena
    Amata heptaspila
  • Amata hesperitis
    Amata huebneri : Wasp Moth
    Amata humeralis
    Amata hyalota
    Amata insularis
    Amata lampetis
    Amata leucacma
  • Amata lucta
  • Amata macroplaca
    Amata magistri
    Amata marella
    Amata melitospila
    Amata nigriceps
    Amata ochrospila
  • Amata olinda
    Amata orphnaea
    Amata pactolina
    Amata paradelpha
    Amata paraula
    Amata phaeochyta
    Amata phepsalotis
    Amata prosomoea
    Amata pyrocoma
    Amata recedens
    Amata trigonophora
    Amata xanthosoma : Yellow Tiger Moth
    Amata xanthura : Southern 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

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    (updated 12 June 2014, 16 June 2024)