This caterpillar feeds at night. By day, it lies among the shadows : along the underside of a stem of its foodplant, or under a dead leaf near to its foodplant.

caterpillar lying along the underside of a twig of its foodplant
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

The caterpillar is mottled brown, and has a two small horns on the penultimate segment. Its legs are pale orange, as is its head, which also has two broad black stripes. It has some small black spots on its back, and some large ones underneath.

(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne)

Caterpillars of this species have been found feeding on a variety of Wattles ( Acacia species, MIMOSACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne)

The caterpillar is attacked by various predators and parasites.

caterpillar being eaten by a Huntsman Spider:
Isopedella victorialis ( SPARASSIDAE)
(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne)

The caterpillar matures in about three weeks in summer, and grows to a length of about 7 cms.

A pair of cocoons on a curled leaf
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

It pupates sometimes in a cocoon, sometimes not, in the leaf litter or under the bark. One specimen had a pupal duration of 19 days in summer in Melbourne.

post-emergence pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne)

The adult is brown above and orange-brown beneath. The upper surfaces have a pattern of darker lines, and each fore wing has a large blue, brown and black eyespot in the central area. This eyespot has a semicircular internal structure. Underneath: each wing has a small black discal spot.

(Photo: courtesy of Kim and Glenn)

The moth is well known for its habit of entering houses and sitting motionless for many hours in full view. The moth has a wingspan of up to 9 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of John Moore, Karratha, Western Australia)

Eggs were laid by one specimen in cracks in pieces of bark in December in Melbourne.

The species is found over the southern half of Australia, including

New Zealand, and Norfolk Island.

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Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 55, 451.

Pat and Mike Coupar,
Flying Colours, New South Wales University Press, Sydney 1992, p. 70.

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