Achaea janata (castor semilooper)

Pictures

Picture	Title	Caption	Copyright
Title Eggs Caption Eggs of A. janata, dorsal view x40. The eggs are beautifully sculptured, with a greenish colour, convex on the dorsal side with ridges and furrows on the surface radiating from a circular depression at the apex and concave on the ventral side. Copyright A. John	Eggs	Eggs of A. janata, dorsal view x40. The eggs are beautifully sculptured, with a greenish colour, convex on the dorsal side with ridges and furrows on the surface radiating from a circular depression at the apex and concave on the ventral side.	A. John
Title Fourth-instar larva Caption The first two pairs of prolegs in the larvae are undeveloped and hence the gait is that of a looping caterpillar. Copyright A. John	Fourth-instar larva	The first two pairs of prolegs in the larvae are undeveloped and hence the gait is that of a looping caterpillar.	A. John
Title Fifth-instar larva Caption The body has a spectacular, beautiful, velvety, appearance with a mid-dorsal black streak running longitudinally on a black background with noticeable anal tubercles. On either side of the mid-black streak, two narrow, yellow and orange streaks run longitudinally. Copyright A. John	Fifth-instar larva	The body has a spectacular, beautiful, velvety, appearance with a mid-dorsal black streak running longitudinally on a black background with noticeable anal tubercles. On either side of the mid-black streak, two narrow, yellow and orange streaks run longitudinally.	A. John
Title Prepupa Caption The feeding phase of the fifth-instar larva is followed by a non-feeding prepupal stage. Copyright A. John	Prepupa	The feeding phase of the fifth-instar larva is followed by a non-feeding prepupal stage.	A. John
Title Pupa Caption The pupa is whitish-green. The body is very soft, gradually tanned to a dark brown, with a hard cuticle coated with white dust. Copyright A. John	Pupa	The pupa is whitish-green. The body is very soft, gradually tanned to a dark brown, with a hard cuticle coated with white dust.	A. John
Title Adult moth Caption Adult moths are light brown, with characteristic black and white patterns in the posterior region of the hind wings and dry brown scales all over the body. Copyright A. John	Adult moth	Adult moths are light brown, with characteristic black and white patterns in the posterior region of the hind wings and dry brown scales all over the body.	A. John
Title Larval abdomen Caption Posterio-ventral view of larval abdomen. Copyright A. John	Larval abdomen	Posterio-ventral view of larval abdomen.	A. John
Title Larval abdomen Caption Line artwork of posterio-ventral view of larval abdomen. See the pits on a white base in female. Copyright A. John	Larval abdomen	Line artwork of posterio-ventral view of larval abdomen. See the pits on a white base in female.	A. John
Title Pupal abdomen Caption Posterio-ventral end of pupal abdomen showing the position of the genital opening. Copyright A. John	Pupal abdomen	Posterio-ventral end of pupal abdomen showing the position of the genital opening.	A. John
Title Pupal abdomen Caption Line artwork of posterio-ventral end of pupal abdomen showing the position of the genital opening. Copyright A. John	Pupal abdomen	Line artwork of posterio-ventral end of pupal abdomen showing the position of the genital opening.	A. John
Title Abdomen of adult Caption Posterio-ventral end of the abdomen of the adult moth showing the position of genital opening. Copyright A. John	Abdomen of adult	Posterio-ventral end of the abdomen of the adult moth showing the position of genital opening.	A. John
Title Abdomen of adult Caption Line artwork of posterio-ventral end of the abdomen of the adult moth showing the position of genital opening. AO - anal opening, CS - cremastral setae, GO - genital opening, S - spiracle, Th - tuft of hair. Copyright A. John	Abdomen of adult	Line artwork of posterio-ventral end of the abdomen of the adult moth showing the position of genital opening. AO - anal opening, CS - cremastral setae, GO - genital opening, S - spiracle, Th - tuft of hair.	A. John

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Achaea janata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Preferred Common Name

• castor semilooper

Other Scientific Names

• Achaea melicerta
• Catocala traversii Fereday, 1877
• Noctua tigrina Fabricius, 1775
• Ophiusa ekeikei Bethune-Baker, 1906
• Ophiusa janata
• Ophiusa melicerta
• Phalaena (Geometra) janata Linnaeus, 1758
• Phalaena (Noctua) melicerta Drury [1773]

International Common Names

• English: castor oil looper (Australia); castor semi-looper; caterpillar, croton

EPPO code

• OPHIME (Ophiusa melicerta)

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Metazoa
•         Phylum: Arthropoda
•             Subphylum: Uniramia
•                 Class: Insecta
•                     Order: Lepidoptera
•                         Family: Noctuidae
•                             Genus: Achaea
•                                 Species: Achaea janata

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

Host plants/Plants Affected

Growth Stages

List of Symptoms

Natural Enemies

References

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Distribution Maps

• = Present, no further details
• = Evidence of pathogen
• = Widespread
• = Last reported
• = Localised
• = Presence unconfirmed
• = Confined and subject to quarantine
• = See regional map for distribution within the country
• = Occasional or few reports

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