Anthela basigera

Anthela basigera (Walker, 1865)
(one synonym : Darala undulata)
ANTHELIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 24 February 2009)

Anthela basigera
(Photo : courtesy of Lorraine Jenkins, Port Lincoln Junior Primary School, South Australia)

These Caterpillars are red, white and black, and hairy. They feed on :

(Photo: courtesy of Lorraine Jenkins, Port Lincoln Junior Primary School, South Australia)

The adult moths of this species are brown with a series of pale wavy bands parallel to the margin on each wing, and two pale spots on each forewing. The moths have a wingspan of about 4 cms. The specimen shown was taken in South Australia.

male
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The adults are superficially similar to those of Anthela denticulata, Anthela oressarcha, and Anthela euryphrica, but the four species occur in four different areas of the country:

Anthela basigera which is found in South Australia,

Anthela denticulata which occurs in southern Victoria,

Anthela euryphrica which comes from central New South Wales,

Anthela oressarcha which comes from the mountain areas of southern New South Wales.