Pleuroptya balteata (Fabricius, 1798)
 (one synonym : Botys crocealis Duponchel, 1831)
SPILOMELINAE,   CRAMBIDAE,   PYRALOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

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

The caterpillars of this species have been reported to attack:

  • Cashew Nuts ( Anacardium occidentale, ANACARDIACEAE ),
  • Konara Oak ( Quercus serrata, FAGACEAE ), and
  • Chestnuts ( Castanea species, FAGACEAE ) .

    Pleuroptya balteata
    (Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland)

    The adult moths are pale brown with several faint dark zigzag lines across each wing. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

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

    The species occurs as several subspecies across Africa and Asia, including:

  • France,
  • India,
  • Japan,
  • Russia,
  • South Africa,

    as well as occurring in Australia in:

  • Northern Territory,
  • Queensland, and
  • New South Wales.

    Further reading :

    Johan Christian Fabricius,
    Supplementum Entomologia Systematica ,
    1798, p. 457, No. 300.

    Buck Richardson,
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 45.

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

    (updated 28 December 2009, 5 September 2025)