Anthela canescens (Walker, 1855)
(one synonym: Darala scortea)
ANTHELINAE, ANTHELIDAE

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

(updated 16 June 2009)

Anthela canescens

This is a brown Caterpillar with white tussocks of hair and two rows of yellow dots along its back. There are also a pair a black hair pencils on the thorax.

The caterpillar has been found feeding on :

  • Cadaghi ( Corymbia torelliana, MYRTACEAE ).

    Anthela canescens

    It grew to a length of 5 cms, and pupated between the leaves of the foodplant in a voluminous cocoon.

    Anthela canescens
    female (incompletely expanded)

    The adult moths vary from yellowish to reddish brown, with a dark line extending across each wing, often demarking a dark marginal area, and sometimes having black zigzag lines across each wing. The female has a wingspan of about 7 cms.

    Anthela canescens
    male
    (Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott)

    Thr male has a wingspan of about 5 cms. This species is widespread across central Australia, including

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • Victoria,
  • South Australia, and
  • the south of Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 395.

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria: Vol 1: Bombycoidea,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2008, pp. 22-23.

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