(one synonym : Porthesia mixta)
LYMANTRIIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 23 December 2007)
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 23 December 2007)
This animal is easy to identify. It is black and hairy, with two bright red spots on its back (on abdominal segments six and seven). The red spots indicate the position of dorsal glands.
It eats the leaves and flowers of many garden plants and weeds including :
It grows to a length of about 3 cms.
It pupates in thin brown cocoon under a leaf or petal of its foodplant.
After about two weeks in summer, the adult moth emerges. It is white all over, except for its conspicuous black compound eyes, and a black abdomen with a yellow tuft on its tail.
The scales on its wings are very loose, and rub off at the slightest handling. It has a wingspan of about 3 cms.
The female moth lays her eggs in long disorganised strings, and covers them in hairs from her tail.
 caterpillar |
 butterflies |
 caterpillars |
 moths |
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