Aglaosoma variegata

Aglaosoma variegata (Walker, 1855)
(one synonym: Teara lauta)
THAUMETOPOEINAE , NOTODONTIDAE

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

male
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

These caterpillars are pale grey and hairy, with a set of brown dorsal lumps, and rows of blue spots, and have a pale brown head. The hairs are brown with pale tips. The caterpillars feed on various plants, including:

Sydney Wattle ( Acacia longifolia, MIMOSACEAE ), and

Heath-Leaved Banksia ( Banksia ericifolia, PROTEACEAE ).

The caterpillars pupate in cocoons in the ground litter.

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

The adult moths have forewings that have a striking pattern of black and white, with some small rusty red spots that fade in museum specimens. The hindwings are plain pale grey or brown with dark veins. The margins of all the wings are chequered. The thorax is black and hairy. The abdomen has alternate bands of black and orange hairs. The male has feathery antennae, and a hairy tail. The female has thread-like antennae, and a naked tail. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

The species is found in

Queensland,

New South Wales, and

Victoria.

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pls. 17.6, 30.7, p. 424.

Peter Marriott,
Moths of Victoria: Vol 2: ARCTIIDAE AND ITS ALLIES,
Entomological Society of Victoria, 2009, pp. 10-11.

Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 173.