Achaea catocaloides
| Achaea catocaloides | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Erebidae |
| Genus: | Achaea |
| Species: | A. catocaloides |
| Binomial name | |
| Achaea catocaloides Guenée, 1852 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Achaea catocaloides is a species of moth of the family Erebidae first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found in Liberia, Guinea, Benin, Dahomey, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Uganda.[1]
There are up to two generations per year.
In December 2008 and January 2009, there was a serious outbreak of A. catocaloides in the border region of Liberia and Guinea, causing the Liberian government to declare a state of emergency. The feces of the caterpillars made local streams undrinkable.[2]
The larvae normally feed on various trees, such as Dahoma trees,[2] but can become a pest on agricultural crops like coffee, cocoa, citrus, plantain, banana and cassava.
The larvae, known as minsangula or lukunku in D.R. Congo and mindelemoka or muchangumuna in Congo Republic, are eaten and frequently sold in markets.[3]
References
- 1 2 De Prins, J. & De Prins, W. (18 September 2023). "Achaea catocaloides Guenée, 1852". Afromoths. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- 1 2 Lange, Karen (5 February 2009). "Nightmarish Caterpillar Swarm Defies Control in Liberia". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017.
- ↑ Latham, Paul (2015). "Edible caterpillars and their food plants in Bas-Congo province, Democratic Republic of Congo". Researchgate. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
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