(Photo: courtesy of Francis Hawkshaw)

The caterpillar grows to a length of 7 cms.

It pupates in a cocoon under bark or in a crevice such as under the eaves of buildings. The cocoon is also covered in bristles which can penetrate the skin and break off, causing pain and irritation.

Female
(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

The adult moth is large, with a wingspan up to 10 cms. It is brown with darker markings, and a pair of small spots on each forewing.

Male
(Photo: courtesy of C. Griffiths, NSW)

The hindwings are red toward the base, and have a black submarginal castellated marking. The sexes are similar, except that the male has stronger markings than the female, and the antennae are feathery.

Male
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The hindwings are normally covered, but are dramatic when they are displayed, when the moth is disturbed. The moth sometimes adopts an asymmetrical posture, with the abdomen bent under the wings.

Male, showing asymmmetric posture
(Photo: courtesy of Neil Ramsay, New South Wales)

The species occurs over much of the eastern Australia, including:

Male
(Specimen: courtesy of Susan Foyle)

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 394.

Pat and Mike Coupar,
Flying Colours, New South Wales University Press, Sydney 1992, p. 28.

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