Page 610 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Australia, including Tasmania
HABITAT Farmlands, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Beans (Fabaceae), canola (Brassica spp.), Chard (Beta vulgaris),

sun ower (Helianthus spp.), Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum),
and tobacco (Nicotiana spp.)
NOTE Green, semi-looping caterpillar that is found on many crops
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ in (30 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ in (40 mm)
CHRYSODEIXIS ARGENTIFERA
TOBACCO LOOPER
608
(GUENÉE, 1852)

Tobacco Looper caterpillars hatch from round, white eggs
laid separately on the underside of leaves. Described as a semi-
looper, the larva has two pairs of prolegs rather than four and so
has a partly looping movement, similar to that of the true loopers
of the Geometridae. Each caterpillar spins a white cocoon on
the underside of a leaf, which it camou ages with bits of leaves

and even droppings. The adult moth emerges after a pupation
of around three weeks.

This species is an agricultural pest that attacks many crops.
Young caterpillars feed on one side of the leaf, creating
distinctive “feeding windows,” but as they molt and get larger,
they chew holes in the leaves. Mature caterpillars feed from the
leaf margin, sometimes defoliating whole plants. The caterpillars
also damage crops such as tomatoes by chewing the unripe
fruits, and they bore into the pods of beans and peas to reach the
seeds inside.

Actual size

The Tobacco Looper caterpillar is green
with a dark, green dorsal line bordered by
two white stripes. Laterally, there are several
ne, white lines and a row of black spots.
The body tapers toward the head.