Amyna natalis
| Amyna natalis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Amyna |
| Species: | A. natalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Amyna natalis (Walker, 1858) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The Ilima Moth (Amyna natalis) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is widespread from tropical Asia into northern Australia. It is an introduced species in Hawaii, where it is found on Oahu.
The wingspan is 16–22 mm
Larvae have been recorded on Abutilon incanum, Sida cordifolia, Sida fallax, Sida rhombifolia and Waltheria americana. The caterpillars are green loopers.
Males have been observed producing a continuous ultrasonic song of high intensity (about 102 dB SPL measured at a distance of 10 cm). During song production the animals were perching on plants and moving their wings up and down quickly. Simultaneously, by twisting the wings it seems likely that a male-specific bubble in the forewing functions as a tymbal, resulting in sound production. The sound production may be associated with the release of a pheromone from putative scent-disseminating structures on the underside of the forewing tymbal.
External links
- Insects of Hawaii. Volume 7, Macrolepidoptera
- The ultrasonic song of the moth Amyna natalis (Lepidoptera:Noctudidae: Acontiinae)
- Un Chant D’appel Amoureux’: Acoustic Communication In Moths
- Australian Faunal Directory