Agarista agricola, Joseph's coat moth[2][3] or painted vine moth,[1] is a medium-sized moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Edward Donovan in 1805 (as Papilio agricola).[4][1]

Agarista agricola
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Agarista
Species:
A. agricola
Binomial name
Agarista agricola
(Donovan, 1805)
Synonyms[1]
  • Papilio agricola Donovan, 1805
  • Agarista picta Leach, 1814

Distribution

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Papua New Guinea and Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria).[2][5]

Description and behaviour

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Caterpillars grow up to 7 cm. Early instar caterpillars are green and brown, with sparse hairs that are spiky in shape. As they grow, they come to feature orange feet and head, are banded predominantly black and white with two orange bands (respectively on the final abdominal segment and on the mesothorax) and the sparse hairs become club-shaped with white tips. Before pupation, the white bands turn orange. Caterpillars pupate on branches, in cocoons covered by chewed pieces of bark.[2]

Adult moths are diurnal and have black wings with yellow, red, white and blue markings. The species is sexually dimorph, with males smaller than females and having a smaller white patch at the base of the forewings. Wingspan approximately 5 cm for males and 7 cm for females.[2]

Food plants

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Caterpillars of Agarista agricola feed on vines of multiple Vitaceae species: Cissus opaca, Cayratia clematidea, Vitis vinifera.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Species: Agarista agricola (Painted Vine Moth)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Herbison-Evans, Don; Crossley, Stella. "Agarista agricola". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Metamorphosis". stories.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  4. ^ Donovan, E. (1805). An epitome of the natural history of the insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and other islands in the Indian, Southern, and Pacific oceans. London. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Agarista agricola". Australian Moths Online. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
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