Alcides metaurus

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

Alcides metaurus
Scientific classification
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
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.

References
  1. Alcides metaurus (Hopffer, 1856) Archived 2010-09-12 at the Wayback Machine. lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au


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