Ectropis excursaria

Ectropis excursaria (Guenee, 1857)
(one synonym is : Tephrosia exportaria)
BOARMIINI, ENNOMINAE,
GEOMETRIDAE

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

(updated 9 July 2007)

early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Cathy Young)

These Caterpillars are brown loopers, initially with a dark mark about half way along each side, on the second abdominal somite.

late instar
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

Later instars lose these marks and may develop other marks or have no marks at all. There is a range of variation in colour at this stage. They develop a small dorsal horn at the rear.

another late instar
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

They rest characteristically sitting on their last pairs of legs, with their other prolegs folded into the body. They lay a silken thread wherever they travel, and if harassed, will drop down on the thread until danger passes, then they laboriously climb back up it. They have been found feeding on a wide variety of plants, including the exotic plants:

Ivy ( Hedera helix, ARALIACEAE ),

Geranium ( Pelargonium x zonale, GERANIACEAE ),

Walnut ( Juglans regia, JUGLANACEAE ),

Sage ( Salvia officinalis, LAMIACEAE ),

Monterey Pine ( Pinus radiata, PINACEAE ),

Roses ( Rosa odorata, ROSACEAE ),

Gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides, RUBIACEAE ), and

Lemon ( Citrus limon, RUTACEAE ),

as well as the Australian native plants:

Senna ( Cassia, CAESALPINIACEAE ),

Purple Coral Pea (Hardenbergia violacea, FABACEAE ),

Wattle ( Acacia, MIMOSACEAE ),

Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ),

Bursaria ( PITTOSPORACEAE ), and

Needlewood ( Hakea, PROTEACEAE ).

The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 4 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Cathy Young)

Pupation occurs in a soil cell, and the adult moth emerges about two weeks later.

(Photo: courtesy of Ken Harris, Morwell Park, Victoria)

The adult is grey to light brown, with a wavy lines of various shades of grey and brown which also extend across the upper side of the abdomen. The undersides are pale brown with a small brown spot in the centre of each wing. Like most geometrids, it rests with wings outspread. The adults blend in well with the bark of many trees. However, the moths show little preference for resting on such material, and are frequently found on plain walls and windowsills!

(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

The adult female is larger than the male, with a wingspan in the range from 3.0 to 4.5 cms. The antennae is threadlike on the female, and the male has small pectinations giving the antennae a thickened appearance. The wings are not so blotchy as the similar species Ectropis bispinaria, and the wavy lines often include a distinct wavy line that ends at the centre of the bottom of the fore wing.

(Photo: courtesy of Cathy Young)

The eggs are laid singly and are off-white, oval, and covered in microscopic dimples.

The species occurs all over Australia, and the moths and Caterpillars are found throughout the year in suburban gardens of Sydney and Melbourne.