General Information

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: RANGE e.Indonesia (Moluccas) - French Polynesia COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; S.Group; ?; Land, lowlands and horticultural zone of valleys; Common along Avana track to intake KEY FEATURES: Medium moth (20mmTL) with varying shades of brown.

Cook Islands Distribution

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

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW

Mocis trifasciata (Stephens)
TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; ARTHROPODA; ATELOCERATA; HEXAPODA; INSECTA; PTERYGOTA; Lepidoptera; NOCTUIDAE

IDENTIFICATION: Medium moth (20mmTL) with varying shades of brown. Fore wings triangular, predominantly greyish brown with blackish brown stripe 1/3rd along length of wing, wavy blackish brown band 2/3rd not reaching rear margin but forming a loop; row of black vein spots on grey band subterminal in position; end of wing dark brown with thin terminal line. Hind wings greyish brown lightening towards distal margin, 3 blackish brown bands merging to a single patch at fore edge. Underside of wings orange brown with similar greyish brown banding. Head, Thorax, Abdomen and Legs greyish brown. Antennae brown ¾ length of wing.

GENERAL NOTE: Caterpillar lanky, fawn with brown stripes, on large leaved and tall grasses (green panic, Imperator, etc). Adults fly readily by day, often disturbed from rough herbage.

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: BESO99, specimen #361, ID J.Dugdale 4/2000. Mangaia: fieldspecimen+photo, in grass beside Vaitate Swamp, 2006/5, G.McCormack with ID as Mocis trifasciata. Mauke: specimen, 1984/12, G.Paulay with ID as Mocis trifasciata.

References:
None recorded.

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

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