Amata annulata

Amata annulata (Fabricius, 1775)
(previously known as : Zygaena annulata)
SYNTOMIINI , CTENUCHINAE , ARCTIIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 29 July 2008)

Amata annulata larva
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

This Caterpillar hatches from a furry mass of eggs laid on a leaf of a foodplant. The Caterpillar is black and is covered with stiff brown hairs. It feeds on a wide variety of vegetative products, including :

foliage of herbaceous plants, such as
Japanese Knotweed ( Persicaria capitata, POLYGONACEAE ),

petals of flowers, such as
Roses ( Rosa odorata, ROSACEAE ), and

fruit of plants such as
Black Nightshade ( Solanum nigrum, SOLANACEAE ),

and grows to a length of about 3 cms. When fully grown, the Caterpillar seeks a sheltered spot, where it forms the brown pupa in a sparse white cocoon.

(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The moth is rather wasp-like. Its wings are basically black, with yellow translucent spots on each wing. It has transverse black and yellow bands on its body. It has a wingspan of about 4 cms. The hind wings are only about half the span of the forewings.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The moths are rather laid back fliers, wafting more than flying around backyards. They are unusual for a moth species in that they fly in daylight hours, usually morning and evening.

Specimens have been taken in New South Wales and Queensland.

(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

When flying, the adult moths regularly emit ultrasonic clicks. The evidence suggests that this is aposematic behaviour to warn off bats that the moth is distasteful or poisonous to eat, just as the bright black and orange wing pattern warns possible daytime predators of the same thing.