Nyctemera amicus

Nyctemera amicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Arctiidae
Genus: Nyctemera
Species: N. amicus
Binomial name
Nyctemera amicus
(White, 1841)
Synonyms
  • Agagles amica White, 1841
  • Leptosoma plagiatum Guenée, 1868

The Senecio Moth or Magpie Moth (Nyctemera amicus) is a moth of the Arctiidae family. It is found in south-east Asia, Oceania, and most of Australia.

Larva

The larvae feed on Senecio linearifolius, Senecio quadridentatus, Senecio mikanioides, Senecio cruentus, and Senecio scandens. These foodplants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, making the larvae unpleasant to taste and poisonous to birds.[1]

References

  1. Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley (November 12, 2008). "Nyctemera amicus". uts.edu.au. Retrieved 2009-01-27.