Lyssa macleayi (Montrouzier, 1856)
 (one synonym: Nyctalemon patroclus)
URANIINAE ,   URANIIDAE

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


(Photo: courtesy of Neil Hewett ,   Cooper Creek Wildernes)

This species was probably named in 1856 after William Macleay, a great international entomologist like his father: Alexander Macleay. He added his collection to his father's in founding the Macleay Museum at the University of Sydney.

The Caterpillars of this species feed on :

  • Whitewood ( Endospermum medullosum, EUPHORBIACEAE ).


    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    The adult moths are dark brown with a diagonal white stripe across each wing., They have a wingspan of about 13 cms.


    underside
    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    Various similar species in the Lyssa genus occur throughout south-east Asia, but Lyssa macleayi only occurs in the tropical north of Australia, including:

  • Queensland.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 38.9, p. 384.

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 150.

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    (updated 3 August 2011)