Panacela lewinae (Lewin, 1805)
(one synonym : Semuta pristina)
Lewin's Bag Shelter Moth
EUPTEROTIDAE

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

Panacela lewinae
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

These Caterpillars are hairy and brown, with a yellow zig-zag line along each side, and with a dark head capsule. The hairs can cause iritation if they contact the skin (Urticaria). The Caterpillars live communally in a shelter on their food plant, made of leaves joined by silk. They hide in the shelter by day, coming out to feed at night. If disturbed, they make a scraping sound inside their shelter.

Panacela lewinae
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

They feed on the introduced:

  • Tagasaste ( Chamaecytisus prolifer, FABACEAE ),
  • Monterey Pine ( Pinus radiata, PINACEAE ),

    and the Australian natives:

  • Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus species, MYRTACEAE ),
  • Turpentine ( Syncarpia glomulifera, MYRTACEAE ), and
  • Native Cherry ( Exocarpus cupressiformis, SANTALACEAE ).

    Panacela lewinae
    Male
    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    The adult moths are dimorphic. The male is light brown with a dark band across each forewing.

    Panacela lewinae
    Female
    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    The females are a uniform dark brown, and have a large tuft of hair on the tail. They both have a wingspan of about 3 cms.

    Panacela lewinae
    Male
    (Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

    The species occurs in the subtropical east of Australia.

    Further reading :

    David Carter,
    Butterflies and Moths, Collins Eyewitness Handbooks, Sydney 1992, p. 211.

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, pls. 14,11,14.13, pp. 67,69,399.

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria: Vol 1: Bombycoidea,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2008, pp. 24-25.

    Paul Zborowsky and Ted Edwards
    A Guide To Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2007, pp. 158,177.

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    (updated 6 September 2009)