Lacera noctilio (Fabricius, 1894)
 (one synonym : Lacera capella Guenée, 1852)
EREBINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Lacera noctilio
(Photo: courtesy of Axel Hausmann, SNSB, Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen)

These caterpillars have been reported to feed on:

  • Caesalpinia ( CAESALPINIACEAE ),
  • Pisonia ( NYCTAGINACEAE ),
  • Canthium ( RUBIACEAE ), and
  • Callicarpa ( VERBENACEAE ),.

    Lacera noctilio
    Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, from
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art

    The adult moth has wings that are greyish brown, with a complex pattern. The wing margins are ragged in appearance. In its resting position, it folds its wings vertically together over its body, like may butterflies do.

    Lacera noctilio
    dorsal view between the folded wings
    (Photo: courtesy of Aila Keto, Springbrook, Queensland)

    The species occurs in south-east Asia across to the south Pacific region, including :

  • Borneo,
  • Cook Islands,
  • India,
  • New Caledonia,
  • Taiwan,
  • Thailand,

    as well as in Australia in:

  • Queensland.

    Further reading :

    Johan Christian Fabricius,
    Entomologia Systematica Emendata et Aucta,
    Tom. 3, Part 2 (1793), p. 12, No. 14.

    Buck Richardson,
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 143.

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    (updated 1 March 2011, 15 April 2018, 16 November 2019)