Comocrus behri

Comocrus is a monotypic moth genus in the family Noctuidae erected by Karl Jordan in 1896. Its only species, Comocrus behri, the mistletoe moth or mistletoe day moth, was first described by George French Angas in 1847.[1] It is widely distributed in southern Australia from Perth to Melbourne and adjacent to Bass Strait, occurring as far north as Derby, Western Australia, and Clermont and Rockhampton in Queensland. It may be seen during daylight hours hovering around mistletoe species such as Amyema miquelii, Amyema melaleucae and Amyema cambadgei growing on Casuarina and Eucalyptus trees. The adult moths feed on Eucalyptus flower nectar,[2] have a wingspan of some 58 millimetres and are basically black with white bands running through the wings. Individuals ready to mate exhibit 'hill-topping' behaviour, flying to high points in the landscape and there encountering mates.[3]

Comocrus behri
1857 watercolour by Arthur Bartholomew
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Comocrus

Jordan in Rothschild & Jordan, 1896
Species:
C. behri
Binomial name
Comocrus behri
(Angas, 1847)

Synonyms
  • Agarista casuarinae Scott, 1864
  • Agarista flexuosa Walker, 1865
  • Agarista contorta Walker, 1865
  • Agarista cortortus Jordan, 1896
  • Agarista casuarina Jordan, 1912
  • Agarista cortutus Nye, 1975[4]

References
  1. Savela, Markku (15 October 2005). "Comocrus Jordan in Rothschild & Jordan, 1896". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. Mistletoe Moth | Strathbogie Ranges – Nature View
  3. Noctuids, Cutworms, Armyworms or Semi-Loopers
  4. Comocrus behri: Mistletoe Moth | Atlas of Living Australia
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