The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 1 cm.

When one Caterpillar encounters another, they each produce a small amount of brown liquid from the mouth, and this causes the Caterpillars to walk apart. This appears to be a mechanism that prevents overcrowding of the Caterpillars. Unfortunately for the Caterpillars, this mandibular secretion also attracts parasitoid wasps such as Venturia canescens ( ICHNEUMONIDAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Upper beaconsfield, Victoria)

The adult moths have a wingspan of about 1 cm. They are fawn coloured, with a fringe on the back of each hind wing. The males and females come together using pheromones the chemical nature of which have been identified. The females emit these chamicals and the males sense them and fly to the female. The adults also use ultrasonic sounds (~80 Khz) in their courtship behaviour.

(Picture: courtesy of Casa Bernardo, Brasil)

The species occurs world-wide, for example :

Attempts to control the pest have used :

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 350.

Bibliography of the Almond Moth, Ohio Agricultural Reseach and Development Center.

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(updated 15 November 2011)