The caterpillars of this species initially are green with a black forward curving spine on the tail.

(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Queensland))

Later they can become pale brown or green, covered in small white dots. There is a dark dorsal line which may be fragmented into a line of dashes. A pair of pale dorso-lateral lines run from the head to the tail. They also have a dark brown spine on the tail (which is quite harmless). They grow to a length of about 6 cms.

They feed on various members of the RUBIACEAE family, including :

Hairy Psychotria ( Psychotria loniceroides ).

(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Queensland))

The pupa is brown with a row of black spots along each side.

(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Queensland))

The adult moths have light and dark brown forewings, with a pale bar across the middle of each one. The hindwings are yellow with a broad black border. The moth has a wingspan of about 4 cms.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The eggs are spherical and off-white. They are laid singly under the leaf of a foodplant.

(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Queensland))

The species is found in:

Australia, in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.

Fiji, 2001

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Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 413.

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