Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Crotalaria pod borer (394)


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Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. In Oceania, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands. Possible biocontrol of Crotalaria, rattle pod, a poisonous weed to cattle.
  • Young larvae eat leaves, older ones bore into stem.
  • Eggs on top of leaves in rows along midrib. Larvae with black and white rings. Adults, orange with black spots on forewings.
  • Said to be important in Fiji for checking spread of Crotalaria; Not thought effective in Australia.
  • Management: No information.  

Common Name

Crotalaria pod borer, rattle-pod borer, black spotted moth.

Scientific Name

Argina astrea. Previously known as Argina cribraria. It is a moth of the Erebidae, a family commonly known as 'tiger moths'.


AUTHOR Grahame Jackson & Mani Mua
1Information from Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London; and The moths of Borneo. (https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-6/contents.php). Photo 3 John Hill (2009) Photo of Argina astrea moth with closed wings. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Argena_astrea_(Crotalaria_pod_borer,_Tiger_moth).jpg). Photo 4 Diorit (2011) Unbekannter Schmetterling aus dem Hochland von Madagaskar. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madagaskar_Schmetterling01052011.JPG).

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/18: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Pacific Community.

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