Achaea janata

Achaea janata
Achaea janata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Achaea
Species: A. janata
Binomial name
Achaea janata
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • Geometra janata Linnaeus, 1758
  • Noctua melicerta Drury, 1770
  • Noctua tigrina Fabricius, 1781
  • Noctua cyathina Macleay, 1826
  • Catocala traversii Fereday, 1877
  • Ophiusa ekeikei Bethune-Baker, 1906
  • Achaea traversii (Fereday, 1877)
  • Achaea tigrina Fabricius, 1775
  • Achaea melicerta Drury, 1773
  • Achaea ekeikei Bethune-Baker, 1906

The Castor Semi-Looper, Achaea janata, is a Noctuid moth, the caterpillars of which are termed 'semi-loopers' due to their mode of locomotion and feed on Castor Ricinus communis. As they feed off the Castor Oil plant exclusively they are extremely poisonous and should be avoided at all costs.

It is found from the Indo-Australian tropics and subtropics, extending south to New Zealand and east through the Pacific archipelagoes to Easter Island.

  • Caterpillar

  • Male ventral view

  • Male dorsal view

  • Female ventral view

  • Female dorsal view

External links


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