| Aucha velans | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Aucha |
| Species: | A. velans |
| Binomial name | |
| Aucha velans Walker, [1858] | |
Aucha velans, the tide-watching mangrove moth, [1] is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1858. [2] It is found in Sri Lanka, [3] [4] Singapore and Philippines. [5]
The adult has a wingspan of 28–35 mm. They are found on the stems of Avicennia mangroves in a characteristic position where adults perch head down on tree trunks. Caterpillars are edge feeders of Avicennia species. Late instars reach the ground and pupate inter-tidally under rotting logs or in algal mats. [1] They are major pests on mangroves and considered as severe defoliators. [6]
