Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Erebidae Scientific name Asota caricae | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Subfamily Aganainae Rank Species | |
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Similar Euimata, Asota ficus, Asota producta, Asota plana, Asota plaginota | ||
The Tropical Tiger Moth, (Asota caricae), is a species of noctuoid moths in the Erebidae family. It is found from the Indo-Australian tropics of India, Sri Lanka, to Queensland and Vanuatu.
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Description
The wingspan is 51–58 mm. Palpi with black spots on 1st and 2nd joints. Fore wings brownish fuscous. There is a basal orange patch with two subbasal black spots and a series of three on its outer edge. The veins are streaked with white. There is a white spot at lower angle of cell. Hind wings are orange-yellow in color. A black spot at end of cell, one beyond, one below vein 2 and a submarginal irregular series which sometimes becomes a nearly complete marginal band. The veins crossing the band is yellowish. Larva black above and brown below. There are two dorsal white bands, a sub-dorsal black spot on each somite. A series of lateral black specks present with sparse black hairs. Head is reddish.
Ecology
The larvae have been recorded on Ficus, Broussonetia, Mesua, Tectona and Shorea species. Pupation is in a slight cocoon, fixed to a leaf. Species is found in forest and agricultural areas.