| Tiracola plagiata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Tiracola |
| Species: | T. plagiata |
| Binomial name | |
| Tiracola plagiata (Walker, 1857)[1] |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Cacao Armyworm (Tiracola plagiata) is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from south-east Asia to the south pacific islands, including the northern two-thirds of Australia.
The wingspan is about 60 mm. Adults are brown, with a light and dark pattern on the forewings.[2]
It is an international fruit pest, particularly for Musa acuminata. Larvae have also been recorded on various other plants, including Dioscorea species, Diplocyclos palmatus, Toona australis, Eucalyptus, Portulaca oleracea, Phytolacca octandra and Physalis ixocarpa. They are smooth and black, with yellow patches on the sides of the abdomen near the front and the back.