Bug FAQSandalwood defoliator
Amata passalis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Source: Wikipedia
First-instar larvae are about 2 mm long and mature larvae reach nearly 30 mm. In captivity the moth completes its life cycle in about 62 days and can produce 6 to 11 generations each year. It is a serious defoliator of sandalwood (Santalum album) and also feeds on cowpeas, other pulses and ornamental plants, causing crop damage.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
First-instar larvae are roughly 1.97 mm long, while the final instar can be about 29.29 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is noted as a sandalwood defoliator in India. It also attacks cowpeas, other pulses and ornamental plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
The larval stage of the parasitoid wasp Apanteles nepitae can be used to control this moth.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in Sri Lanka and India.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars mainly defoliate sandalwood (Santalum album) in India. They also feed on cowpeas, other pulses and various ornamental plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In laboratory conditions the full life cycle lasts about 62 days. The species breeds year-round, producing between six and eleven generations annually.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes Sri Lanka and India.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I control sandalwood defoliator?
Introducing the parasitoid wasp Apanteles nepitae, whose larvae attack the moth, is a reported control method.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants does sandalwood defoliator eat?
It primarily defoliates sandalwood trees and also feeds on cowpeas, other pulses and ornamental plants.
Source: Wikipedia
How long does the life cycle take?
In captivity the species completes its life cycle in about 62 days and can have 6 to 11 generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amata_passalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.