Ancistrocerus sp.♀︎

Pyrausta aurata (Mint moth)

Last update: 25 July 2021
garden
species


Unknown

LOCATION: Krimpen aan den IJssel, garden

OBSERVATION:
2021-VII-17


An Ancisterocerus female was roaming between some plants and landed on a leaf underneath which a caterpillar of the Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata)was apparently hiding and that she immediately attacked. Possibly the larva was too heavy to lift because she left because she left it hanging on a thread.

Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) on Nepeta sp. paralized by Ancistrocerus sp.
Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) on Nepeta sp. paralized by Ancistrocerus sp.
Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) on Nepeta sp. paralized by Ancistrocerus sp.

The next day the caterpillar was gone and I’ve not been able to locate it in the plant. For some Ancistrocerus species it is known that the poison can induce permanent and complete paralysis, incomplete paralyses or no paralysis [1]. But since I’ve not been able to locate the larva it is impossible to say whether it continued it’s business or still ended up as prey.


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