Anthela connexa

Anthela connexa (Walker, 1855)
(one synonym : Darala fervens)
ANTHELINAE , ANTHELIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
and
Miguel de Salas & Stella Crossley

(updated 24 February 2009)

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

The Caterpillars of this species are thought to feed on:

She Oaks ( Cauarina and Allocasuarina species, CASUARINACEAE ),

but have been reared successfully on:

Wattles ( Acacia species, MIMOSACEAE ).

female
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott
Specimen: courtesy of D.M. Holmes)

The adult moths of are brown with a dark line parallel to the margin on each wing, and two pale spots on each forewing. The males are unusual in that they commonly fly in the daytime. The male moths have a wingspan of about 5 cms. The female moths have a wingspan of about 7 cms.

The species occurs in

New South Wales,

Queensland,

Tasmania, and

Victoria.

Further reading:

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 393.

Peter Marriott,
Moths of Victoria: Vol 1: Bombycoidea,
Entomological Society of Victoria, 2008, pp. 20-21.