Oenochroma vinaria

Oenochroma vinaria Guenee, 1857
(one synonym is: Monoctenia decora)
Pink Bellied Moth
OENOCHROMINAE, GEOMETRIDAE

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

(updated 30 March 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Bruce Anstee)

These Caterpillars are brown with a broad black band along the back scattered with white dots, and interrupted with pairs of pale spots on the thorax, and abdominal segments one, three, and eight. Small horns project from these. The Caterpillars have only two pairs of ventral prolegs.

(Photo: courtesy of David Nelson)

When disturbed, the Caterpillar curls the head under the body exposing the horns and markings on the thorax and the start of the abdomen.

(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

They feed on various members of the plant family PROTEACEAE :

Spider Flowers ( Grevillea ),

Needlewood ( Hakea ), and

Candle Flowers ( Banksia ).

(Photo: courtesy of Susan Foyle)

The pupa is brown. The pupal stage can be as short as 3 weeks in summer.

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

The general wing colour of the adult moths is variable: at one extreme some are pink and at the other some are brown. The body also varies from pink to brown. The moths all have a brown or yellow line across the upper surface of each wing. Also each forewing has a recurved wingtip, and a small transparent spot surrounded by an irregular dark mark on both the upper and under surfaces.

(Photos: courtesy of Evan Harris)

In its resting pose, the lines are aligned and resemble the vein in a leaf.

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

Underneath, there is also a large dark purple blotch under each forewing, and a dark line under each hindwing. The moths have a wingspan of 5 to 7 cms.