ARCTIIDAE in Australia
Footmen, Woolly Bears, Tiger Moths, Wasp Moths.
NOCTUOIDEA

ARCTIINAE 33 named species CTENUCHINAE 53 named species LITHOSIINAE 215 named species

Caterpillar Pictures Moth Pictures Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com ) & Stella Crossley (updated 10 April 2009) The Caterpillars of the ARCTIIDAE are mostly covered uniformly in dark hairs, which gives them the name "Woolly Bears". The hairs can cause Urticaria in sensitive people. The Caterpillars typically feed and move about during the daytime. Characteristically, if disturbed, they roll into a tight spiral with the head in the centre. They pupate in a cocoon made of silk with their hairs matted together. The adults are small to medium in size, and many are spotted or striped in red, orange, black, and/or white. The stripes give rise to the name "Tiger Moths". Some often fold their wings closely along their bodies giving them a stiff appearance: hence their name "Footmen". The 301 named Australian members of this family are divided taxonomically into the three subfamilies listed here.

ARCTIINAE Tiger Moth photos CTENUCHINAE Wasp Moth photos LITHOSIINAE Lichen Moth photos