Dasygaster padockina (Le Guillou, 1841)
(one synonym : Mamestra confundens)
 HADENINAE ,   NOCTUIDAE

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

Dasygaster padockina
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

This Caterpillar is brown above and greyish brown below. A cream lateral line extends onto the orange head capsule. The front of the head capsule is marked with vertical brown lines. Each prolegs is marked by a small black line. The Caterpillar hides by day at the soil surface, and feeds nocturnally on :

  • Grass ( POACEAE ).

    The Caterpillar pupates in the soil. Caterpillars which pupated in June in Melbourne emerged as adults the following January.

    Dasygaster padockina
    (Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

    The adult moth has brown forewings with orange markings. The hind wings are brown. The wingspan is about 2 cms.

    Dasygaster padockina
    (Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Upper Beaconsfield)

    The species occurs in:

  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • South Australia,
  • Tasmania, and
  • Victoria.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 49.20, pp. 65, 466.

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    (updated 12 April 2011)