Figure of eight

Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas

Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas

For adults, figure of eight may be attracted to light traps or sweet bait traps using substances such as sugar, honey or fermented fruit. For caterpillars, food plants specific to figure of eight can be used as bait.

The eggs of figure of eight are typically deposited on the leaves of a host plant, where they hatch into larvae. The larval stage can be found munching on leaves, often on fruit-bearing trees or shrubs. Seeking out the caterpillars of figure of eight involves looking for potential host plants and inspecting their leaves. The pupal stage is passed in a cocoon, which can be found in the leaf litter or soil near the host plant. Searching for these cocoons might require sifting through decaying organic matter at the base of trees or digging slightly into the soil. The adult figure of eight is nocturnal and can be found resting on tree barks or near light sources during the night.

Figure of eight can be best observed during their peak activity periods. Adults are usually active at dusk or at night and can be found throughout their flight season, while caterpillars may be more visible during daytime hours.

The best weather conditions to find figure of eight are mild, warm and humid nights for adult specimens, and dry, sunny days for observing caterpillars and eggs in the vegetation.