Galtara extensa
| Galtara extensa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Erebidae |
| Subfamily: | Arctiinae |
| Genus: | Galtara |
| Species: | G. extensa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Galtara extensa (Butler, 1880)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Galtara extensa is a moth of the family Arctiidae. It is found on the Comoros and in Madagascar.[1]
Biology
The eggs of this species have a diameter of 0.8 mm and 0.75 mm in height (dome shaped). They are of cream to white colour when deposited and turn black on the day before hatching. They are laid singly or in batches underside of the leaves. The duration of eggs is 5–6 days. The larvae feed at night, their head is smooth, the body is covered with dark, plumose setae. At maturity they reach a size of 26.4 mm. Pupae is abouth half the length of the larvae, the pupal stage is of 11–12 days.
The adults of this moth have 8 longitudinal bands on the forewings. The hole life span of this moths is 41 days, producing up to 9 generation in a year under laboratory conditions.
The larvae of this moths feed on fireweed Senecio madagascariensis (an Asteraceae), a plant also native to Madagascar that had been introduced to Australia and Hawaii, where it has become an invasive pest.[2]
At a lesser grade they also feed on Delairea odorata, Senecio vulgaris, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Emilia fosbergii, Erechtites hieracifolia and Helianthus annuus (Sunflowers).[3]
Biological control
In December 2012 the United States Departement of Agriculture approved the release of Galtara extensa in Hawaii to combat the spread of fireweed.[4]
References
- Butler 1880b. On a collection of Lepidoptera from Madagascar with descriptions of new genera and species. - Annals and Magazine of Natural History (5)5:333–344, 384–395.
- ^ afromoths
- ^ Reimer, 2008. Field Release of Secusio extensa (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), for Biological Control of Fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis Poiret (Asterales: Asteraceae), in Hawaii. - Hawaii Departement of Agriculture.
- ^ Ramadan, Murai & Johnson, 2010. Host range of Secusio extensa (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), and potential for biological control of Senecio madagascariensis (Asteraceae). Journal of Applied Entomology.
- ^ hawaiinewsnow.com: State to release 'Madagascar' moth to feed on toxic weed
