Dot-underwing moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dot-underwing |
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The Dot-underwing moth (scientific name: Eudocima materna) is a fascinating insect. It's a type of moth from the Erebidae family. You can find this moth in many parts of the world. It lives mainly in tropical Asia, reaching New Guinea and Australia. It also lives in Africa. Some moths that look similar in the United States and Canada are actually a different species called Eudocima apta. You can tell the Dot-underwing moth apart from other similar moths. It has a small black dot in the middle of each of its back wings. Carl Linnaeus, a famous scientist, first described this moth in 1767.
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What Does the Dot-Underwing Moth Look Like?
The Dot-underwing moth is quite large. Its wingspan is usually between 60 and 96 millimeters. That's about 2.3 to 3.7 inches wide!
Male Moths
Male Dot-underwing moths have a greenish-grey head and body. Their abdomen, which is the back part of their body, is orange. Their front wings are greenish-grey. They have many faint reddish lines that look like stripes. You can also see three reddish spots near the end of the wing. There's a dark line that goes from the top of the wing to the middle of the inner edge. The underside of their wings is orange.
Female Moths
Female Dot-underwing moths have front wings that are much more reddish. They also have larger, shiny patches. These patches are often connected and have white streaks.
Are There Different Kinds of Dot-Underwing Moths?
For a while, some scientists thought that Eudocima apta was the same as E. materna. However, more recent studies show they are different species. Eudocima apta lives in the New World (like North and South America). Eudocima materna is its Old World counterpart (found in places like Asia and Africa). If you look closely, you can see clear differences between these two species.
What Do Dot-Underwing Moths Eat?
The young moths, called caterpillars or larvae, eat leaves from many different plants. They are known to feed on plants like Cocculus, Lycopersicon (which includes tomatoes), Malus pumila (apple trees), Mangifera indica (mango trees), Musa × paradisiaca (banana plants), Tinospora caffra, Vitus (grape vines), Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii, Rhigiocarya racemifera, and Tiliacora.
They especially like plants from the Menispermaceae family. This includes Tinospora smilacina and Legnephora moorei.
Are They Pests?
Adult Dot-underwing moths are sometimes considered pests. This is because they can damage fruits like citrus and others. They use their long mouthpart, called a proboscis, to pierce the fruit. Then, they suck out the juice.
Gallery
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From Palakkad - Kalpathy, Kerala
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Female, dorsal view
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Female, ventral view
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Male, dorsal view
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Male, ventral view
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Larva
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Fifth-instar larva
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