Eublemma scitulum explained

Eublemma scitulum, the grey eublemma, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Rambur in 1833. It is widespread in Africa and Asia.[1]

Distribution

Algeria, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,[2] New Guinea, Australia and France,

Biology

The caterpillar is bright pink to reddish. Its prolegs are modified to a pair of large suckers for adhering to the substrate. Body is covered with a light silken web, which serves as a shield. Pupation occurs within this shield.[3]

Caterpillars of the genus Eublemma are pests on several scale insects. The E. scitula caterpillar is a pest on Kerria, Anomalococcus, Lecanium, Ceroplastes, Pulvinaria species, Drepanococcus cajani, Saissetia coffeae, Saissetia oleae, Ceraplastes rusci, Didesmococcus unifasciatus, Cerococcus indicus and Coccidohystrix insolita.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Savela . Markku . Eublemma scitula (Rambur, 1833) . Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms . 8 October 2018.
  2. Koçak . Ahmet Ömer . Kemal . Muhabbet . 20 February 2012 . Preliminary list of the Lepidoptera of Sri Lanka . Cesa News . 79 . 1–57 . Centre for Entomological Studies Ankara . Academia.
  3. Web site: Coccidiphaga scitula . ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources. 28 March 2018.
  4. Web site: Grey Eublemma . African Moths. 28 March 2018.