Mallow-caterpillar

Guides

• Tarache dacia

  brown cotton leafworm

  Tarache dacia is a species of noctuid moth commonly known as the brown cotton leafworm. It belongs to the bird dropping moth group within the subfamily Acontiinae, characterized by larvae that feed on plants in the genus Hibiscus. The species was originally described as Acontia dacia by Druce in 1889 and is currently classified under the genus Tarache.

  NoctuidaeAcontiinaebird-dropping-mothleafwormHibiscus-pestmallow-caterpillarNorth-AmericaDruce-1889Acontia-dacia

• Tarache delecta

  Delightful Bird-dropping Moth, Mallow Caterpillar (larval stage)

  Tarache delecta, commonly known as the delightful bird-dropping moth, is a noctuid moth in the subfamily Acontiinae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1858. It is notable as the only member of the Acontiinae known to feed on plants in the genus Hibiscus. The larval stage, referred to as the 'mallow caterpillar,' has been considered a pest of ornamental mallows.

  NoctuidaeAcontiinaebird-dropping-mimicHibiscus-feedermallow-caterpillarpestornamental-pest