Discophlebia catocalina

Discophlebia catocalina R.Felder, 1874
OENOSANDRIDAE

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

(updated 15 June 2008)

(Photo: by David Carter, Natural History Museum, London,
courtesy of Denys Long, East Sussex)

This Caterpillar is grey, with a dark dorsal line, and dark marks enclosing a red or orange spot on the shoulders of each segment. It is covered in sparse long white hairs, which can cause urticaria. The thorax and head are brown, and the first and last abdominal segments are dark. When young, the Caterpillars are gregarious. They feed on the older leaves of :

various species of Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott)

These medium-sized moths seem to mimic a piece of a branch where a stick has broken off.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The wings of the moth are grey, with a broad white margin on each hindwing. The head is grey and the body has a tuft of yellow hairs on the tail. The moths have a wingspan of about 5 cms.

The species is found over the south-east quarter of Australia, including:

Australian Capital Territory,

New South Wales,

Queensland, and

South Australia.