Alcides metaurus

Alcides metaurus or North Queensland Day Moth[1] is a moth of the family Uraniidae. It is known from the tropical north of Queensland, Australia.[2]

Alcides metaurus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Uraniidae
Genus: Alcides
Species:
A. metaurus
Binomial name
Alcides metaurus
(Linnaeus, 1763)
Synonyms
  • Nyctalemon metaurus Hopffer, 1856
  • Nyctalemon zodiaca Butler, 1869
  • Alcides zodiaca

Description
Alcides metaurus ventral view

The wingspan is about 100 mm. Adults are black with iridescent bands of yellow and pink. The underside is iridescent pale green with black bands. They are on wing during the day and feed on flower nectar. They rest with their wings open and out flat.

The larvae feed on various Euphorbiaceae species, including Endospermum medullosum, E. myrmecophilum, and Omphalea queenslandiae. These plants contain poisons which might protect the larvae from predation. The various instars have colours varying from green with a black band, to black with white bands and a red thorax, to red with black bands and orange legs. Pupation takes place in a cocoon made in a crevice or between dead leaves.

Distribution

It is found in Queensland and around New Guinea.[3]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alcides metaurus.
  1. "North Queensland Day Moth (Alcides metaurus)". iNaturalist United Kingdom. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  2. Alcides metaurus (Hopffer, 1856) Archived 2010-09-12 at the Wayback Machine. lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au
  3. "Papua Insects Foundation (Lepidoptera/Uraniidae/Uraniinae/Alcides metaurus)". www.papua-insects.nl. Retrieved 2023-02-18.


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