Jasmine Moth (one synonym : Palpita vitrealis Rossi, 1794) SPILOMELINAE, CRAMBIDAE, PYRALOIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
(Photo: courtesy of
iznikilcetarim)
This Caterpillar is green, shading blueish toward the head and the tail. When disturbed, it is inclined to wriggle violently, or drop on a thread. This species is an international pest, feeding on
The caterpillar starts life as an egg which is white and shaped as a flattened sphere. The caterpillars are initially yellow, later becoming green. They grow to a length of about 2 cms.
The adult has shiny transparent wings. The fore wings have a brown leading edge, and two black spots in the middle. The moths have a wingspan of about 3 cms.
The moth occurs in:
and in Australia, specimens have been taken in
The species is known for its migrations. Some components of its pheromones have been elucidated.
Further reading :
Jacob Hübner,
Lepidoptera VI, Pyralides II,III,
Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge,
Volume 6 (1796), Plate 20, fig. 132.
caterpillar | butterflies | Lepidoptera | moths | caterpillar |
(updated 31 January 2013, 4 November 2020)