Kingdom Animalia Family Noctuidae Scientific name Meganola brunellus Rank Species | Class Insecta Genus Meganola Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
Meganola brunellus is a moth of the family Nolidae. It is found in Sri Lanka, India, Taiwan, Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Sundaland, Queensland and the Bismarck Islands. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.
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Taxonomy
The taxonomic placement of this species has been problematic. It has been included in the Arctiidae, Nolidae or Noctuidae. Poole transferred brunellus to Nola in 1989, but the male genitalia are atypical of this genus.
Descripition
Wingspan is 21mm. Head and thorax white, slightly irrorated with black and collar black banded. Abdomen brownish white in color. Fore wings suffused with pale brown and black irrorated. Oblique antemedial and postmedial black specks series present. A marginal series of specks can be seen, with traces of a pale submarginal line visible. The brown suffusion very dark on costa before postmedial specks and on the margin, more prominent in some specimens than others. Hind wings white or ochreous.
Ecology
The larvae feed on Melastoma species, including Melastoma candidum, around forests or domestic areas.