''Dysgonia torrida'', commonly known as the jigsaw, is a species of

moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (s ...

in the family

Erebidae The Erebidae are a family (biology), family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea. The family is among the largest families of moths by species count and contains a wide variety of well-known macromoth groups. The family includes the underwin ...

. The species was first described by

Achille Guenée Achille Guenée (sometimes M.A. Guenée; 1 January 1809 – 30 December 1880) was a French lawyer and entomologist. Biography Achille Guenée was born in Chartres and died in Châteaudun. He was educated in Chartres, where he showed a very ear ...

in 1852. It is found from the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa to Spain, southern Italy, Greece, Syria, Israel, Iran, Uzbekistan towards India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Description

This species has a wingspan of 45–50 mm. Colors highly variable. Body red-brown. Antemedial line of the forewing being erect and having broad, white and slightly suffused band beyond it. Postmedial line angled also between veins 3 and 4 and sinuous towards inner margin. Apical streak broken up into two spots. Hindwings with a white medial band and outer margin greyish at center.

Ecology

There are multiple generations per year. In Europe adults are on wing from May to June and September. The larvae feed on ''

Zea mays Maize (; ''Zea mays''), also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout Poaceae, grass that produces cereal grain. It was domesticated by indigenous peoples of Mexico, indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago ...

'' (

Poaceae Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivate ...

), ''

Ricinus communis ''Ricinus communis'', the castor bean or castor oil plant, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus, ''Ricinus'', and subtribe, Ricininae. The evolution of ca ...

'' and ''

Acalypha wilkesiana ''Acalypha wilkesiana'', common names copperleaf, Jacob's coat and Flamengueira, is an evergreen shrub growing to high and across. It has a closely arranged crown, with an erect stem and many branches. Both the branches and the leaves are cover ...

'' (

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae (), the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of Euphorbia, the type genus of the family. Most spurges, such as ''Euphorbia paralias'', ar ...

)Martiré & Rochat, 2008, ''Papillons de la Réunion'', Biotope page 405

References

External links

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''African Moths''

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Dysgonia Moths described in 1852 Moths of Cape Verde Moths of the Comoros Moths of Africa Moths of Madagascar Moths of Mauritius Moths of the Middle East Moths of Réunion Moths of Seychelles Moths of Asia Moths of Europe {{Catocalini-stub