| Achaea janata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Achaea |
| Species: | A. janata |
| Binomial name | |
| Achaea janata (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Castor Semi-Looper, Achaea janata, is a Noctuid moth, the caterpillars of which are termed 'semi-loopers' due to their mode of locomotion and feed on Castor Ricinus communis. As they feed off the Castor Oil plant exclusively they are extremely poisonous and should be avoided at all costs.
It is found from the Indo-Australian tropics and subtropics, extending south to New Zealand and east through the Pacific archipelagoes to Easter Island.