Cream-striped Owl

Afrikaans name: Uilmot

Cream-striped Owl moth

Photo © Steven Herbert

Cyligramma latona

The Cream-striped Owl is a large species of moth with a wingspan of around 7.5 cm.

Both pairs of wings show the cream stripe and each fore-wing has the large eye-spot. The eye markings are a form of defensive camouflage as potential predators see the eyes and can be tricked into believing that they are dealing with a large species of bird (an owl perhaps) and ignore it.

The Cream-striped Owl is attracted to light and these large insects are commonly found inside homes at night. They are also attracted by the smell of over-ripened fruit and even alchohol.

In South Africa they occur in the southern and eastern regions of the country.

References and further reading

Southern African Moths & Their Caterpillars - Author: Staude, Picker and Griffiths - Published: 2023 - Page: 352

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 168

Pocket Guide - Insects of South Africa - Author: Mike Picker & Charles Griffiths - Published: 2015 - Page: 122

Insects of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Clarke H. Scholtz and Erik Holm - Published: 1989 - Page: 391

Field Guide to Insects of South Africa - Author: Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths and Alan Weaving - Published: 0 - Page: 364

Gardening for Butterflies - Author: Steve Woodhall & Lindsay Gray - Published: 2015 - Page: 122

For more info: African Moths

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