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Family Noctuidae, Subfamily CATOCALINAE
- This page contains pictures and information about Semi-looper, Triangle, Underwings and Owl Moths
in subfamily Catocalinae
that we
found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
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Eyes pattern on wings
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- Catocalinae is a subfamily in Moth largest family Noctuidae.
Adults have the common name Owl Moths. Catocalinae is the very large
and diverse group. Some classify this
group as family Catocalidae.
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- Caterpillar
Cocoon
Covered colour hind
wings
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- Moths in this subfamily Catocalinae are usually medium to very large in size.
All of them are strong fliers. Most of them
have robust body and broad wings. Some of the them have brightly coloured hind
wings which are normally covered. Some others have eye-shaped patterns on their
wings. They usually have strong proboscis. Their antennae are usually simple.
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- The caterpillars in Catocalinae are usually smooth-skinned and lack of
hairs. They are long and slender.
Some of them have prolegs of segments 3, or 3 and 4 missing and known as semi-looper.
They move in looping
action. They pupate in a rather scant silk cocoon, usually on or between
leaves of host plants.
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Caterpillars in this group move in looper style and known as semi-looper.
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- Caterpillars in Genus Mocis feed on grasses (Poaceae), include
sugar canes and rices.
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Black Triangle Moths - Genus Trigonodes,
Grammodes, Chalciope
- We noticed in the subfamily Catocalinae there is a group of moths which
are dark brown to black in colours with white strips on wings. When rest,
they all hold their forewings in equilateral triangle shape. Those colours
and shape make them do not look like a moth. We believed those Black
Triangle Moths mimicking each others and form a Mullerian
mimicry complex.
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- In Genus Achaea and Ophiusa, the adult moths have brightly coloured hind
wings which are normally covered.
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- The moths in this genus are large in size. As their common name implied,
most of them have the white band across wings. They also have a large eye spot
on each forewing. The bright orange coloured abdomen is covered by wings when
rest, only be seen during flight. Not much is known about their
caterpillars.
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- Reference:
- 1. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p912.
- 2. Moths
of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press,
1990, p448.
- 3. CATOCALINAE
in Australia - Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2011.
- 4. Northern
Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.
[ Owl Moths ] [ GrassSemiLooper ] [ Block Triangle Moths ] [ Underwing Moths ] [ White Banded Moths ] [ Unknown Noctuid ]
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