General Information

COMMON NAMES: Cacao Armyworm GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: Indonesia / Australia - Marquesas - Henderson Island COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; S.Group; ?; Land, horticultural SIGNIFICANCE LIST: ; Pest KEY FEATURES: Medium moth (25mmTL) various shades of brown with characteristic triangle in middle of leading edge of fore wing. SIMILAR SPECIES: Genitalia studies are needed to determine status; many island groups have Tiracola plagiata resident in lowland sites, and a locally endemic upland/montane entity - teh BESo specimens were from in the mountains.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
P

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW

Tiracola plagiata cf.QQ (Walker)
TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; ARTHROPODA; ATELOCERATA; HEXAPODA; INSECTA; PTERYGOTA; Lepidoptera; NOCTUIDAE

IDENTIFICATION: Medium moth (25mmTL) various shades of brown with characteristic triangle in middle of leading edge of fore wing. Fore wings coppery brown; darker brown patches symmetrically placed near front edge; edges scalloped. Hind wings lighter brown with thin gold line around scalloped edge. Underside paler than upper surface; terminal dark brown spots on all wings and a few medial spots on hind wings. Head, Thorax and Abdomen same colour as wings. Legs and Antennae light brown. Thorax and Abdomen colour similar to wings.

GENERAL NOTE: Found in upper montane forest, adult nocturnal.Caterpillar will feed on the canopy foliage of a wide range of tree species.

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: BESO99, specimen #73, 376, ID J.Dugdale 4/2000.

References:
Special Reference: PM79

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

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