Biology:Spodoptera picta
| Lily caterpillar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult moth | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Spodoptera |
| Species: | S. picta
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| Binomial name | |
| Spodoptera picta (Guérin-Méneville, 1838)
| |
| Synonyms[citation needed] | |
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Spodoptera picta, the lily caterpillar, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It was described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1838. It is found from India, South-east Asia and Japan through Indonesia, Australia and the western part of South Pacific ocean to Fiji.[1][2] Its caterpillars feeds on the leaves of plants in the Amaryllidaceae and Liliaceae families, and can be a significant pest in gardens.[3][4]
Description
The wingspan is about 40 mm. It is generally an ochreous-white moth, the head and thorax suffused with pinkish red. The forewings have some red on their costal base; there are numerous ill-defined waved black lines present between the base and antemedial line: the orbicular and claviform consisting of black rings; a medial pinkish red band, wide at costa narrowing to inner margin; the reniform with ochreous and black outlines and red centre; the postmedial double waved lines are filled in with ochreous and highly excurved beyond the cell; some black dashes can be seen on reddish patches beyond it. The hindwings are semi-hyaline white.[5]
Caterpillars have smooth skin and are pale grey with a series of longitudinal black lines. Mesothorax also has dark patches with last abdominal segment. With development, central dorsal line become yellowish.[6]
Ecology
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Eggs are laid on the leaves of host plants. The caterpillars bore into the leaves and down into the crown of the bulb.[7] The caterpillar pupates in leaf litter.[8] Pupation takes place under ground in an earthen cocoon.[9]
References
- ↑ "Lily Caterpillar Moth (Spodoptera picta)". iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/325682-Spodoptera-picta.[circular reference]
- ↑ "Spodoptera picta (Guérin-Méneville, 1830)". GBIF. https://www.gbif.org/species/5109872.
- ↑ Tara Cassidy, Julie Clift, and Alyssa Martin, Native caterpillar decimates east coast gardens as hot, humid weather sets in, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-28/spodoptera-picta-lily-caterpillar-decimates-gardens/100785056, retrieved 25 March 2025
- ↑ Savela, Markku. "Spodoptera picta (Guérin-Méneville, [1838)"]. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/xyleninae/spodoptera/#picta. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ↑ Hampson, G. F. (1894). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma: Moths Volume II. Taylor and Francis. p. 249 (as Calogramma festiva). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/180400#page/275/mode/1up. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Herbison-Evans, Don; Crossley, Stella (24 April 2017). "Spodoptera picta (Guerin-Meneville, [1831)"]. http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/amph/picta.html. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ↑ "Lily Caterpillar Moth - Spodoptera picta". Brisbane Insects. http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_noctuidae/LilyCaterpillar.htm. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ↑ "Lily Caterpillar Facts". Australian Wildlife. http://www.ozanimals.com/Insect/Lily-caterpillar/Spodoptera/picta.html. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ↑ Holloway, Jeremy Daniel. "Spodoptera picta Guerin-Meneville". http://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-12/amphipyrinae/amphipyrinae_11_8.php. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
External links
- Calogramma picta image at Le Monde des insectes
- "Late Instar Caterpillar and Metamorphosis of Spodoptera picta Guérin-Méneville (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae) With Notes On Its Cannibalistic Behaviour". Archived from the original October 3, 2016.
Wikidata ☰ Q13514424 entry
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