Opodiphthera loranthi

Opodiphthera loranthi (T.P.Lucas, 1891)
(one synonym : Antheraea carnea)
SATURNIIDAE

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

(updated 6 February 2008)

early instar
(Photo: courtesy of David and Shireen Brunckhorst, Armidale, NSW)

This Caterpillar is dark green or brown, with dark tubercles (scoli) each with a white hair with a flattened tip.

(Photo: courtesy of David and Shireen Brunckhorst, Armidale, NSW)

It feeds in groups on :

various species of Mistletoe ( Amyema , LORANTHACEAE ).

late instar
(Photo: courtesy of David and Shireen Brunckhorst, Armidale, NSW)

The Caterpillars pupate together in tough oval cocoons on the main stem of their foodplant.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The adult moth is rusty brown with wrinkled wingtips, a single brown eyespot in the middle of each wing, and a black line parallel to the outer edge of each fore wing. It has a wingspan up to 10 cms. The species is found in the north-east quarter of Australia.