Don Herbison-Evans
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 5 September 2010)

Ophiusa disjungens larva
(Photo: courtesy of Robert Whyte, Brisbane)

The species feeds on various species of MYRTACEAE, including :

 

  • Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus ), and
  • Turpentine ( Syncarpia glomulifera ),and is sometimes a pest on :
  • Guava ( Psidium guajava ).
    Ophiusa disjungens
    (Photo: courtesy of Robert Whyte, Brisbane)
    The adult moths of this species are purplish-brown, with a dark kidney-shaped mark near the centre of each forewing, and often a purple spot at each forewing tip. Each hindwing has a broad black mark along the margin.
    Ophiusa disjungens
    Illustration 9, Plate CCXIV of Hampson’s Noctuidae of the British Museum, 1903-1913.
    (Courtesy of Joe Kunkel, University of Massachusetts)
    The species occurs as several subspecies over south-east Asia and the south Pacific, including :
  • Thailand, and
  • Tonga (illustration 11: subspecies tongaensis)
    as well as in :
  • New South Wales, and
  • Queensland.