Salma pyrastis (Meyrick, 1887)
(one synonym : Macalla ferruginea)
 EPIPASCHIINAE ,   PYRALIDAE

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

Salma pyrastis
(Photo: courtesy of Nick Monaghan, Tewantin, Queensland)

This Caterpillar is buff coloured, with black, white, and yellow stripes along its body, and a pale brown head. The thorax is black with white spots. The body is covered sparsely in short stiff white hairs. It lives and pupates communally in a silken web of leaves and frass on its foodplant. It feeds on :

  • Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ),

    and grows to a length of about 3 cms.

    Salma pyrastis

    The adult has brown forewings and yellow hind wings. The forewing has a dark tip, and the hind wings have a black scalloped border. It has a wingspan of about 3 cms.

    Salma pyrastis
    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    The species is found in eastern Australia, including:

  • New South Wales,
  • Queensland,
  • South Australia,
  • Tasmania, and
  • Victoria.

    Salma pyrastis
    underside

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, Pl. 8.23, p. 348.

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    (updated 20 April 2010)