Hylaeora dilucida

Hylaeora dilucida (R.Felder, 1874)
(erroneously: Hyelora lacerta)
NOTODONTINAE , NOTODONTIDAE

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

(updated 22 September 2005)

(Photo: by David Carter, Natural History Museum, London,
courtesy of Denys Long, East Sussex)

This Caterpillar is smooth, and green, grey or brownish. It has a darker coloring along the back, and is paler along the sides. It has a dark line bordered in white along each side separating the two shades. The prominent pale spiracles are outlined with black. The anal segment has two very dark patches.

(Photo: courtesy of Tony Robinson,
Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia)

The caterpillars feed on :

various species of Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).

camouflaged cocoon
(Specimen: courtesy of Lynette Queale,
Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia)

Pupation occurs in a sparse cocoon which has a length of about 3 cms. The cocoon is covered in bits of debris. Metamorphosis in the pupa can take approximately a year.

cocoon cut open after moth has emerged showing broken pupal skin
(Specimen: courtesy of Lynette Queale,
Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia)

The adult moth has dark grey-brown forewings, white hindwings with dark edges and veins, and an orange body. The wingspan is up to 9 cms.

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

The species occurs mainly inland in the southern half of mainland Australia, including Western Australia.