Ophiusa coronata

Ophiusa coronata (Fabricius, 1775)
(one synonym : Anua ponderosa)
CATOCALINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

(updated 14 August 2008)

Kiribati, 1980

The caterpillars of this species are brown loopers, with a black head that ahs two white stripes each side. The caterpillars also have two black and white knobs on the tail. The caterpillars feed on the trees and vines in the False Almond family ( COMBRETACEAE ) :

Rangoon Creeper ( Quisqualis indica ), and

False Almond ( Terminalia catappa ).

The adult moth has brown forewings each with a dark spot near the centre. The hindwings are bright yellow, each with two broad brown arcs. The moth has a wingspan of about 6 cms.

This moth is an agricultural pest, causing damage to fruit by piercing the fruit with its strong proboscis in order to suck the juice. The moth is particularly prone to attack:

Oranges,

Lemons,

other Citrus.

The species occurs in countries from India to the islands of the Pacific, including

Hong Kong,

Tahiti,

Thailand, and

the tropical regions of Australia.