Calcarifera ordinata

Calcarifera ordinata (Butler, 1886)
(synonym: Doratiphora colligans)
LIMACODIDAE

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

(updated 14 January 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of photographer Darren Jew)

The Caterpillars of this species look as though they carry their own TV antennas. They have four large branched spikes protruding from the front and from the rear, and a series of smaller ones along each side. These all sting. The sting has been described as "worse than 3 wasp stings". The Caterpillars are brightly coloured greenish-yellow, and have a red dorsal stripe with a broad blue edging, and a blue band with red patches along each side.

(Photo: courtesy of Kell Nielsen, Gold Coast)

They have been found feeding on :

Date Palms ( Phoenix Canariensis, ARECACEAE ),

various Wattles ( Acacia, MIMOSACEAE ),

Dogwood ( Jacksonia scoparia, FABACEAE ),

Ribbon Pea ( Leptosema aphyllum, FABACEAE ),

Roses ( Rosa odorata, ROSACEAE ),

Orange Trees ( Citrus sinensis, RUTACEAE ), and

Whitewood ( Atalaya Hemiglauca, SAPINDACEAE ).

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Kell Nielsen, Gold Coast)

The caterpillars have reduced legs, and locomote using a slug-like movement of the underside of the body.

cocoon
(Photo: courtesy of Kell Nielsen, Gold Coast)

The cocoon is formed on a leaf. It is spun out of silk in a small sphere, then covered in a liquid that sets like a tiny cricket ball.

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

The adult moth has cream forewings with black speckles and a row of brown dots parallel to the margin. The hind wings are pale brown. It has a wing span of about 3 cms.

The species occurs in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and the northern half of Western Australia.