Nyctemera amicus

Senecio Moth, Magpie Moth, Cineraria Moth at Holt, ACT

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Identification history

Nyctemera amicus	7 Jan 2021	ibaird
Nyctemera amicus	7 Jan 2021	donhe
Unidentified	7 Jan 2021	AlisonMilton

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User's notes

Raised to adulthood.New photos added.

5 comments

AlisonMilton wrote:

7 Jan 2021

In protective custody, however its preferred food may not be easy to find. There was lots of this at Lake Ginninderra but a trip there today revealed that this has been the 'victim' of the extensive weeding around this area last year. Hopefully it will be amenable to a different diet.

donhe wrote:

7 Jan 2021

What plant were they eating? They seem to accept many common Asteraceae weeds: see http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/plants/aste/asteraceae.html

AlisonMilton wrote:

8 Jan 2021

It was a very straggly plant, possibly star cudweed or similar.

Mike wrote:

8 Jan 2021

Likely to be Senecio quadridentatus from its appearance. This is a preferred food plant though the caterpillars can be fussy eaters, stripping one plant while ignoring others nearby.

AlisonMilton wrote:

8 Jan 2021

There were a few Magpie moths flying around at the lake yesterday so they must be feeding on some plant there. Perhaps I'll go back and see if I can find a preferred plant if it doesn't like any of the variety of plants I've put in with it.

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