Phyllodes imperialis

Phyllodes imperialis, the imperial fruit-sucking moth or pink underwing moth, is a noctuoid moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Calpinae. It was first described by Herbert Druce in 1888. The species can be found in north-eastern Queensland to northern New South Wales, Papua New Guinea, Solomons, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Phyllodes imperialis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Phyllodes
Species:
P. imperialis
Binomial name
Phyllodes imperialis
H. Druce, 1888
Synonyms
  • Xenodryas meyricci
  • Phyllodes meyricki Olliff, 1889
  • Phyllodes meyricci Hampson, 1913
  • Phyllodes papuana Hampson, 1913
  • Phyllodes dealbata Holloway, 1979

Description

The wingspan is 130–170 mm. The "leaf-shaped" forewings are grey brown and show a distinctive white or yellow marking which vary somewhat among populations. The ventral side of the forewing has a discal, dark-brown patch containing three white spots. The hindwings are dark brown to black with a large central pink patch extending to the inner margin, to which the common name "pink underwing moth" refers.

Early instars of the caterpillar are dull brown, but green individuals are also observed. Mature caterpillars are dark brown to reddish brown and show large eyespots. These are composed of a black pupil surrounded by a blue, then yellow ring. Between and below the eyespots are white markings, often described as looking like teeth, and resemble the teeth from a cartoon skeleton.[1]

Subspecies

The following subspecies are known:[2]

  • Phyllodes imperialis imperialis from the Solomon Islands
  • Phyllodes imperialis dealbata from New Caledonia and Vanuatu
  • Phyllodes imperialis meyricki from the north of Australia and Papua New Guinea
  • Phyllodes imperialis smithersi from the southeast of Queensland and the northeast of New South Wales

Food plants

The larvae feed on Menispermaceae species, including Carronia multisepala and Pycnarrhena australiana.

  • Female, dorsal view
  • Female, ventral view
  • Male, dorsal view
  • Male, ventral view

References
  1. Video of the caterpillar on YouTube.
  2. Sands, Donald P. A. (2012). "Review of Australian Phyllodes imperialis Druce (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) With Description of a New Subspecies from Subtropical Australia". Australian Entomologist. 39 (4): 281–292.

Literature
  • Druce, H. (1888). "Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. (6): 234–242.
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