Zermizinga sinuata

Zermizinga sinuata Walker, 1863
(previously known as : Mnesigea sinuata)
Lucerne Looper
BOARMIINI , ENNOMINAE , GEOMETRIDAE

Zermizinga sinuata larva
(Photo: courtesy of Lyn Loger, Nathalia, Victoria)

These caterpillars have brown stripes. They are loopers, with only two pairs of prolegs.

(Photo: courtesy of Lyn Loger, Nathalia, Victoria)

They have a preference for feeding on various FABACEAE, such as:

Red Lotus ( Lotus cruentus ),

and is sometimes a pest on:

Lucerne ( Medicago sativa ),

They have also been found feeding on :

Spearmint ( Mentha spicata, LAMIACEAE ) and

male adult
(Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern)

The male moths have well developed wings, that are grey with a complex pattern of curvy lines.

female adult
(Photo: courtesy of Lyn Loger, Nathalia, Victoria)

The female moths have undeveloped wings, with brown and orange stripes.

The species occurs in :

The similar species Zermizinga indocilisaria occurs in New Zealand.