Cerura australis

Cerura australis (Scott, 1864)
(previously known as : Andria australis)
NOTODONTINAE , NOTODONTIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Ian F.B. Common & Stella Crossley

(updated 2 March 2009)

Cerura australis larva
(Photo from: Moths of Australia)

The Caterpillars of this species can be fearsome. When disturbed, the Caterpillars rear up with head thrown back, and spray formic acid! The Caterpillars are green with brown patches along the back, There is a hump on the thorax, and long tentacles on each of the two anal prolegs. The Caterpillars feed on :

Flintwood ( Scolopia braunii, FLACOURTIACEAE ).

They pupate in a tough cocoon on the tree trunk, and camouflage it with bits of bark. When the adult is ready to emerge, it exudes fluid to weaken one end of the cocoon, making it easier to break through it.

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

The adult moths of this species have forewings which are white with black spots all over them. The hindwings are brown with black and white chequered edges. The moths have a wingspan of about 6.5 cms.

The spherical eggs are laid singly on a leaf of a foodplant, and are white with a black dot in the middle, and a dark ring around it.

The species has been found in :

New South Wales,

Queensland, and

south of Western Australia.