Nyctemera amicus

1 Senecio Moth, Magpie Moth, Cineraria Moth at Wodonga, VIC

Nyctemera amicus at Wodonga, VIC - 15 Aug 2021
Nyctemera amicus at Wodonga, VIC - 15 Aug 2021
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Identification history

Nyctemera amicus 18 Aug 2021 MichaelMulvaney
Unidentified 15 Aug 2021 KylieWaldon

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User's notes

there are only a few silver leafed senecios so of course they are the ones with a gaggle of these caterpillars on them! I can see two white dots on the head and some red spots on the body.

2 comments

   18 Aug 2021
It does eat other daisies besides senecio but fireweed does seem to be a favourite - I gather they contain Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These make the caterpillar unpleasant to taste, and poisonous to birds which would otherwise attack it. The magpie name comes from the colouring of the adult moth. The forward pointing"hairy horns" are one of the distinctive features.
KylieWaldon wrote:
   18 Aug 2021
Thanks Michael. knowledgable as always.

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only

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Galium aparine (Goosegrass, Cleavers) at Wodonga - 23 Sep 2020 by Alburyconservationcompany
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Location information

Sighting information

  • 5 Abundance
  • 15 Aug 2021 10:03 AM Recorded on
  • KylieWaldon Recorded by

Additional information

  • silver leafed senecio Associated plant
  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size
  • Unknown Gender

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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