Heortia vitessoides (Moore, [1885])
(previously known as : Tyspana vitessoides)
ODONTIINAE CRAMBIDAE

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

(updated 14 July 2008)

Heortia vitessoides
(Photo: courtesy of Roger Kendrick)

The caterpillars of this species are pale green with a broad knobbly black line along each side. Their head is brown. The caterpillars have been found feeding on :

  • Sumac ( Rhus, ANACARDIACEAE ) and
  • Agarwood ( Aquilaria malaccensis, THYMELACEAE ).

    On the latter, it is a pest. The caterpillars live in a group in a shelter made by joining a number of leaves together with silk. The caterpillars drop on silk threads if disturbed.

    When mature, the caterpillars descend and pupate in the soil.

    Heortia vitessoides
    (Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

    The adults have a striking pattern on the forewings of black on pale yellow. The hindwings are white with a broad black margin. The moths have a yellow and black banded abdomen. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

    The eggs are yellowish-green, and are flattened. They are laid in an overlapping cluster, like tiles on a roof.

    Control of the pest has being attempted using:

  • the entomopathegenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.

    This species is found in south-east Asia, including

  • Fiji,
  • Hong Kong,
  • India,
  • Thailand,
    as well as
  • north Queensland.


    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 354.


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