Fodina ostorius

Fodina ostorius (Donovan, 1805)
(one synonym : Anocala cabbalistica)
CATOCALINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

(updated 14 August 2008)

(Photo: the 'Den of Nargun Reserve' on the MacAlister River, Victoria, 13 January 2001
courtesy of Ken Harris)

The Caterpillar of this species can be yellow, green, or bluish-green, with black spots and a yellow line along each side. It appears to feed on :

Common Milk Vine ( Marsdenia rostrata, ASCLEPIADACEAE ) in Victoria, and

Scented Milk Vine ( Marsdenia suaveolens, ASCLEPIADACEAE ) in New South Wales.

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

The adult moth is black, with a white lines, including a broad diagonal stripe, on each forewing, and two yellow spots on each hindwing. There are white bands across the thorax, and a yellow band across each abdominal segment. The wingspan is about 5 cms.

This species occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.