Trichiocercus sparshalli

Trichiocercus sparshalli (Curtis, 1830)
(erroneously: Trichocercus sparshallii)
THAUMETOPOEINAE , NOTODONTIDAE

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

(updated 27 June 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne)

These Caterpillars are gregarious when young, sometimes following each other like a freight train. Later instars become solitary, resting on the leaves of the foodplant during the day. The Caterpillars are yellow with long pale hairs, and a conspicuous red tuft on the back of each segment.

(Photo from: "Flying Colours", Coupar & Coupar, 1992)

The Caterpillars feed on various species of Gum Trees ( MYRTACEAE ) including :

Silver Leaved Stringy Bark ( Eucalyptus cinerea ),

White Ironbark ( Eucalyptus leucoxylon ),

Red Box ( Eucalyptus polyanthemos ), as well as

Brush Box ( Lophostemon confertus ).

The caterpillars grow to a length of about 4 cms. They pupate in a silk cocoon in ground debris.

(Photo from: "Flying Colours", Coupar & Coupar, 1992)

There is a range of wing colours of adult Trichiocercus sparshalli. Most are white, but specimens can be obtained from a light grey to a dark grey. Peter Marriott has reported seeing specimens from many places in Victoria from October to May, but there seems to be no time relationship between colour variations. Those from Mt. Martha on the Mornington Peninsula appear to be always white, but those from Ballarat and Kallista have the full range of colours. They all have a balding brown head having black hair. They have a wingspan of about 4 cms.

They are found over most of Australia, including Victoria.