Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius, 1775)
(one synonym : Diachrysia aurifera)
Soybean Looper
 PLUSIINAE, NOCTUIDAE

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

(updated 23 November 2004)


The Caterpillar of this species is a green looper with a yellow dorsal line. It is a global agricultural pest on

  • Sunflowers ( Helianthus annuus, ASTERACEAE),
  • Soybeans ( Glycine max, FABACEAE ), and
  • Potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum, SOLANACEAE ),

    and in Sydney it is a garden pest on :

  • Parsley ( Petroselinum crispum, APIACEAE ).

    It is known to feed on a number of plants for example:

  • Mums ( Chrysanthemum species, ASTERACEAE ),
  • Tickseed ( Coreopsis species, ASTERACEAE ), and
  • Bittersweet ( Solanum dulcamara, SOLANACEAE ).


    The forewings of the adult moth are brown, and each has a beautiful golden patch. The hind wings are fawn coloured, darkening towards the margins. It has a wingspan of about 4 cms.


    (Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

    The species occurs widely, for example in

  • Borneo,
  • Great Britain,
  • New Zealand Thailand, and
  • West Africa,


    Ascension Island    , 1988

    It has only recently been found in Australia: the first recorded sighting being in 1976 in Queensland. The above specimen was caught in Sydney in 1998.

    The pheromones for this species have been determined. As an agricultural pest, attempts are being made to control it using:

  • a Baculovirus,
  • the wasp Copidosoma floridanum, and
  • the wasp Cotesia ruficrus.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 65, 460.

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