- Restricted distribution. Hosts are the nettle family (Bohmeria species). Ramie is a fibre crop, also used as fodder. In Fiji, on overripe bananas.
- Larvae defoliate plants, stripping leaves to the veins. Large, up to 10 cm, black and yellow with long white hairs. Moth has blue patterns on hindwings.
- Cultural control: avoid over overlapping crops, and planting new crops nest to old; leave 3 months between crops; monitor x2 weekly, and consider hand picking (rather than insecticides); collect and burn crop remains after harvest.
- Chemical control: use botanicals to safeguard natural enemies (chillies, neem, derris, pyrethrum); in commercial plots, use microbials [spinosad, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki)] sprays against caterpillars when young. Avoid pyrethroids and organophosphates.