Argina astraea (Drury, 1773)
(one synonym: Phalaena cribraria Clerck, 1764)
Crotalaria Podborer
 ARCTIINAE ,   ARCTIIDAE ,   NOCTUOIDEA

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

Argina astraea larva
(Photo: courtesy of Mick Jackes, Townsville)

The Caterpillar of this species is boldly patterned in black and white. It is known to feed on:

  • Rattle-Box ( Crotalaria, FABACEAE ),

    the early instars eating the foliage, and later instars eating the fruit and seeds.

    Argina astraea
    (Photo: courtesy of John Moore, Mt. Surprise, Queensland)

    The adult moth is yellow with black spots, and a wingspan of about 4 cms.

    Argina astraea

    The species is found from Africa across Asia, including :

  • Borneo,
  • French Polynesia,
  • Hong Kong, and
  • Papua,
    as well as :
  • Queensland, and
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 36, 434.

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 18.

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    (updated 13 Spetember 2010)