Agarista agricola

Agarista agricola (Donovan, 1805)
(one synonym : Agarista picta)
Joseph's Coat Moth
AGARISTINAE , NOCTUIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 25 January 2009)

Agarista agricola
(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston)

The caterpillars of this species have alternate black and white bands, with orange bands on the mesothorax and on the last abdominal segment. They have sparse black hairs with white club tips, and their head and feet are also orange.

(Photo: courtesy of Ros Runciman of Yeranda at Barrington Tops)

They feed on various vines from the VITACEAE family:

Australian Native Grape ( Cissus opaca ),

Slender Grape ( Cayratia clematidea ), as well as

Cultivated Grape ( Vitis vinifera ).

common natural posture, with head downward.
(Photo: courtesy of Carol Gainsford, Brisbane)

The adult moths are black with red, white and yellow patches.

Female: wingspan 7 cms.

Agarista agricola
Male: wingspan 5 cms.
(Specimens: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The females are larger and have a large white area at the base of the costa.

Underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The species is found in:

New Guinea,
as well as:

Northern Territory,

New South Wales,

Queensland, and

Victoria.

Yemen 1980