Aedia leucomelas

Sorcerer
Aedia leucomelas
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Aedia
Species: A. leucomelas
Binomial name
Aedia leucomelas
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • Phalaena leucomelas Linnaeus, 1758
  • Anophia acronyctoides Guenée, 1852
  • Noctua adepta Geyer, 1832
  • Anophia albodiscalis Roepke, 1932
  • Anophia limitaris Walker, 1863
  • Anophia olivescens Guenée, 1852
  • Anophia thomae Prout, 1927
  • Catephia ramburii Boisduval, 1829

The Eastern Alchymist, Sweet Potato Leaf Worm or Sorcerer (Aedia leucomelas) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in large parts of the world, ranging from Europe[1] all over Asia[2] up to Japan and some African countries.[3] The subspecies Aedia leucomelas acronyctoides is found in Australia.

Description

The wingspan is about 38 millimetres (1.5 in). Antennae of male almost simple. Fore legs of male lack scaly tufts and long fringes. Body fuscous. Thorax and fore wings suffused with olive or white. Fore wings with indistinct sub-basal and waved antemedial lines. There are traces of orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots. A postmedial double waved line slightly excurved beyond cell. Traces of an irregular sub-marginal lines present, along with a marginal black specks series. Hind wings pure white, where the inner margin fuscous suffused. Outer half of wings black with white patches at apex and anal angle. Ventral side of fore wings with basal tow thirds white, with spot at end of cell.[4]

The moth flies from June to September depending on the location. The larvae mainly feed on Convolvulus species, including Convolvulus sepium, Convolvulus erubescens and Convolvulus arvensis, but also on Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea batatas and perhaps Chondrilla juncea.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Sorcerer (Aedia leucomelas). UKMoths.
  2. ↑ Aedia leucomelas (Esper, 1786). Wolfgang Wagner 2005-2016.
  3. ↑ Aedia leucomelas, (Linnaeus, 1758). African Moths.
  4. ↑ Hampson G. F. (1892). "The Fauna Of British India Including Ceylon And Burma Moths Vol-ii". Digital Library of India. p. 558. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley (November 25, 2007). "Aedia leucomelas". uts.edu.au. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
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