Dysgonia latizona

Dysgonia latizona (Butler, 1874)
(also known as : Buzara latizona)
CATOCALINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

(updated 27 September 2008)

The Caterpillars of this species are grey with orange and black spots, and a yellow line along each side just above the legs. They move in a looper fashion, as they are missing a pair of prolegs. They feed on:

Willgar ( Breynia longifolia, EUPHORBIACEAE ), and

Bahupatra ( Phyllanthus, EUPHORBIACEAE ).

The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 4 cms. They pupate in a cocoon amonst the ground litter. Adult moths emerge after about 14 days in summer in Bundaberg.

(Photo: courtesy of Evan Harris)

The adult moths have a wingspan of about 4 cms. They are found over New Guinea and the northern half of Australia.

The species appears as Illustration number 11 in Plate CCXIX of Hampson's Noctuidae of the British Museum, 1903-1913.

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