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Tarache lucasi (Smith, 1900) |
Bird-Dropping Moth |
MONA# 9148 |
Family: Noctuidae |
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ATTRIBUTES IN GENERAL |
Classification
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Arthropoda
CLASS: Insecta
ORDER: Lepidoptera
SUPERFAMILY: Noctuoidea
FAMILY: Noctuidae
SUBFAMILY: Acontiinae
TRIBE: Acontiini
Tarache lucasi
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General Species Description
| ADULT IDENTIFICATION & WINGSPAN: |
| ADULT FOOD: |
| SPECIES RANGE: |
| ADULT FLIGHT TIME: |
| HABITAT: |
| LARVAL IDENTIFICATION & LENGTH: |
| LARVAL HOST: |
| LARVAL EMERGENCE (TIME/SEASON): |
| References: |
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FIELD NOTES for Tarache lucasi : |
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| Coll. Dates (mm/dd/yyyy) |
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| Locality & GPS coords |
| Brown Cyn, Baboquivara Mts, Pima Co., AZ |
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| Elevation (ft) |
4,000' elev |
| Habitat |
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| Host Plant |
| Hibiscus biseptus ( Arizona Rosemallow) |
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| Collector(s) |
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Field Notes & Observations:
| LARVAE: |
I noticed the plant first, then the larvae. The host plant (Hibiscus biseptus) was in bloom with one bright yellow rose giving up its position. Taking a closer look at the plant and blooms, I noticed feeding damage, then finally an ultimate stage larva resting on stem. This species blends in perfectly, from color to morphology, with the key lime & yellow blends of the jagged plant edges. |
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- Can you find the larva? (click on image) |
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| Larva on Hibiscus biseptus |
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| HOST PLANT: |
Hibiscus biseptus is known to be rare / not as common as Hibiscus coulteri. |
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- example of the more commonly observed hibiscus found lower elevation along foothills: |
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| Hibiscus coulteri, Mexico |
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Feeding damage from Tarache larvae observed in habitat, on same host plant: |
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| Ecology Notes:
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| HABITAT |
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| Sonoran Desert (Brown Canyon) |
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| HOST |
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| Hibiscus biseptus ( Arizona Rosemallow) |
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REARING / LAB NOTES for Tarache lucasi: |
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| Voucher No. |
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| Found as |
| ultimate stage larvae on host |
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| Food plant used |
Hibiscus biseptus |
| Voucher fate |
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| Number of days (1st-Ultimate instar) |
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| Number of days (prepupa) |
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| Number of days (pupa to eclosion) |
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Morphology Notes:
| Ovum: |
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| Larvae: |
| Color: Ultimate stage key lime green with detailed yellow and white markings. |
| Morphology: Pinacular warts from early stages to ultimate stage. Lack prolegs on A3 and A4. A8 hump. |
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| Pupa: |
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| Cocoon: |
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| Adult: |
sexually dimorphic. Male has a broad white stripe along the costa with head and half of thorax white. |
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Behavior notes:
| Ovum: |
------- |
| Larvae: |
Ultimate stage are very cryptic, mainly because of color and patterns. Larvae curve their body in a loop at rest, further blending in with its host plant. During pre-pupal stage, larvae become light pink with with brighter red, orange and yellow colors A1-A4. |
| Pupa: |
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| Cocoon: |
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| Adult: |
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Parasitoids:
| Parasitoids (yes/no) |
No |
| Para. lep voucher: |
N/A |
| Para. species: |
N/A |
| Para. voucher #: |
N/A |
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Additional Field Collections reared in Lab:
| Larva |
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| Penultimate stage larva found on same host plant, Hibiscus biseptus |
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| Larva |
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| Penultimate stage larva found on same host plant, Hibiscus biseptus |
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Life History Images (use scroll button) |
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