Acatapaustus metallopa

Acatapaustus metallopa (Meyrick, 1886)
(previously known as : Uraba metallopa)
NOLINAE, NOCTUIDAE

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

(updated 23 August 2004)

(Drawing by W.E. Chambers, from "Forest Insects of Australia" by W.W. Froggatt,
Forestry Commission of New South Wales, 1923)

These Caterpillars have been found on various Gum Trees ( MYRTACEAE ), including :

Scarlet-Flowering Gum ( Eucalyptus ficifolia ), and

River Red Gum ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis ).

The Caterpillars are pale yellow when young, becoming darker in later instars. They are hairy, and the hairs on the head accumulate the cast skins from earlier instars. The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 1.5 cms.

When mature, they each pupate in a streamlined cocoon attached to a twig of the food plant.

(Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

The adult moth of this species is fawn with a large dark band across each forewing. The moth has a wingspan of about 2 cms.