''Amyna axis'', the oriental eight-spot, is a moth of the family

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...

. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.

Distribution

It occurs in Africa, temperate Asia,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and the Cook Islands. The New World population of ''Amyna axis'' was determined to be a separate species, ''Amyna stricta'', in 2015. The moth migrates north each year in late summer and fall.

Food plants

The larvae feed on '' Amaranthus'', '' Croton'', '' Celosia'', ''

Digera Digera is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. Its native range is Northeastern and Eastern Tropical Africa to Malesia. Species: * ''Digera muricata'' (L.) Mart. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q5806999 Amaran ...

'', '' Helianthus'', '' Chenopodium'', '' Spinacia'', '' Ipomoea'', '' Ricinus'', '' Arachis'', '' Crotalaria'', ''

Medicago ''Medicago'' is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover, in the legume family (Fabaceae). It contains at least 87 species and is distributed mainly around the Mediterranean basin. The best-known member of the genus is ...

'', ''

Phaseolus ''Phaseolus'' (bean, wild bean) is a genus of herbaceous to woody annual and perennial vines in the family Fabaceae containing about 70 plant species, all native to the Americas, primarily Mesoamerica. It is one of the most economically importan ...

'', '' Hibiscus'', '' Cardiospermum'', '' Solanum'', ''

Corchorus ''Corchorus'' is a genus of about 40–100 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. Different common names are used in different contexts, with jute applying to the f ...

'' and ''

Parasponia ''Trema'' is a genus of about 15 species of evergreen trees closely related to the hackberries (''Celtis''), occurring in subtropical and tropical regions of southern Asia, northern Australasia, Africa, South and Central America, and parts of ...

'' species. It is an irregular minor

pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

mung bean The mung bean (''Vigna radiata''), alternatively known as the green gram, maash ( fa, ماش٫ )٫ mūng (), monggo, or munggo (Philippines), is a plant species in the legume family.Brief Introduction of Mung Bean. Vigna Radiata Extract G ...

s (''Vigna radiata''), black-eyed peas (''Vigna unguiclata''),

lucerne Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic German, High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label=Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking po ...

(''Medicago sativa'') and

soy bean The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses. Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk, from which tofu a ...

s (''Glycine max''). Its prevalence may be under reported due to the resemblance of the caterpillar with those of '' Chrysoieixis'' species.

Early stages

The larvae are thin bodied and have faint white stripes and two pairs of ventral prolegs. At low densities of groups, caterpillars are pale green. Among caterpillars at high densities, there are higher frequencies of melanistic phenotypes. The degree of blackening varied widely, ranging from individuals with simple subdorsal-lateral patches to those that were mostly black. Larvae perch on the undersides of leaves and along stems and petioles. At rest, the abdominal segments are often looped upward. When alarmed the larva essentially jumps from the host and continues to wreathe and wriggle wildly. Prepupal larvae take on a pinkish cast. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon below (usually) or at the soil surface. Sand and/or plant debris are interwoven into the cocoon wall.

Adult

The adult moth is chocolate brown above and has a wingspan of . The forewings have faint greyish-white lines and an obscure figure-of-eight mark on it. The hindwings are lighter with fainter markings. The male can be differentiated by the presence of a small semi-transparent patch on each wing. Adults are on wing in late summer and early fall. Forewing of male with a small vesicle in cell, with a small valve of scales over it on underside, the median nervure being slightly curved. It is smaller than ''

Amyna punctum ''Amyna punctum'' is a moth of the family Noctuidae first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. This moth can be found throughout subtropical African countries such as South Africa, Madagascar and Australasian countries like India, Sri ...

''.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar , from=Q4749565 Eustrotiinae Moths of Africa Moths of Asia Moths of Oceania