Penicillaria jocosatrix

Penicillaria jocosatrix Guenee, 1852
(previously known as : Bombotelia jocosatrix)
Mango Shoot Borer
EUTELIINAE, NOCTUIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 4 February 2008)

This Caterpillar is a translucent mauve, with greenish sides and tail, and is covered sparsely in red dots. It has a light brown head. It is an agricultural pest, feeding on the young shoots of

Mango ( Mangifera indica, ANACARDIACIAE ),

Cashew ( Anacardium occidentale, ANACARDIACIAE ),

Schinus sp., ( ANACARDIACIAE ), and

Terminalia ( Terminalia carolinensis, COMBRETACIAE ).

The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 2 cms.

Twins: top facing left, bottom facing right!

The adult moth has very dark fore wings with black markings, and white hindwings with a black spot and a broad dark border. It has a wingspan of about 2 cms.

The species is found from southeast Asia to the Pacific, including :

Australia,

Pacific islands, and

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)