The Caterpillars of the CTENUCHINAE are mostly covered uniformly in dark hairs. The hairs can cause Urticaria in sensitive people. The Caterpillars typically feed and move about during the daytime.

They pupate in a cocoon made of silk with their hairs matted together.

The adults are small to medium in size, with wings that are black with translucent orange spots. Their bodies typically have tranverse bands alternating in orange and black, hence their name 'Wasp Moths'. However the coloration does not denote any hazard except that the moths are poisonous if eaten.

The adult moths of many species in this subfamily fly during daylight hours.

Some common species of the 53 named Australian members of this subfamily are:

Amata annulata
Amata aperta
Amata bicolor
Amata huebneri : Wasp Moth
Amata humeralis
Amata melitospila
Amata nigriceps
Amata xanthosoma

Ceryx sphenodes

Eressa angustipenna
Eressa geographica

Euchromia aemulina
Euchromia creusa