
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 8 May 2008)
This set of species is often treated as a family NOLIDAE, but here, following Nielsen et al., we include it as a sub-family NOLINAE of NOCTUIDAE.
The Caterpillars of this family lack their first pair of prolegs, on the third abdominal segment. They are also hairy, with the tufts of secondary setae at the front and rear slightly longer than the others. These hairs can cause urticaria in sensive people. Pupation occurs in a stiff boat-shaped cocoon, into which pieces of bark and debris are incorporated. This makes the cocoon difficult to discover. Some of the commonest of the 91 named Australian species in NOLINAE are:
Acatapaustis metallopa
Aquita tactalis
Nola epicentra
Nola leucoma
Nola paromoea
Uraba lugens : Gum Leaf Skeletoniser
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