# Castor Semi-looper

*Achaea janata*

Though it walks with the looping gait of an inchworm, it belongs to the Erebidae family, possessing only reduced prolegs that force this unique stride.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Erebidae › Achaea
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Tropical and subtropical forests, agricultural lands, and coastal woodlands.
- **Diet:** Larvae feed on Castor (Ricinus communis) and Croton leaves; adults feed on ripening fruit juices.
- **Range:** India, Australia, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
- **Size:** Wingspan of 50 to 60 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30 to 45 days (complete life cycle)
- **Active:** nocturnal
- **Threats:** Widespread chemical pesticide application in agricultural zones.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. Both the caterpillar and adult moth are safe to observe from any distance. Avoid handling the caterpillars directly as their hairs may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals; wash skin with soap and water if contact occurs.

## About

Achaea janata , the castor semi-looper or croton caterpillar , is an erebid moth, the caterpillars of which are termed 'semi-loopers' due to their mode of locomotion. It is found from the Indo-Australian tropics and subtropics, extending south to New Zealand and east through the Pacific archipelagoes to Easter Island. It is a major pest of castor throughout the world.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/771ce0d5-f496-4811-ba47-ed0dc992dd32
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/204042
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaea janata
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/260505260/medium.jpeg (Aalbert Rebergen, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.