Coequosa australasiae (Donovan, 1805)
(one synonym : Metaminas banksiae)
SPHINGINAE, SPHINGIDAE

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

(updated 17 January 2007)


(Photo: courtesy of Christine Hartley, Eumundi, Queensland)

The caterpillars of this species lack the spike on the tail that many Caterpillars in SPHINGIDAE have, but the last abdominal segment is huge, and the body tapers to a tiny forked head. The caterpillars are green and covered in small warts. There is a diagonal yellow stripe on each side of each abdominal segment.


(Photo: courtesy of Christine Hartley, Eumundi, Queensland)

The caterpillars grow to a length of about 12 cms. They feed on the foliage of various species of :

  • Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).

    The pupa is dark brown and has a length of about 7 cms. It is formed in a sparse cocoon in the ground litter.


    (Photo: courtesy of Chris Stevenson, Beecroft, Sydney)

    The adult moths have forewings that are light and dark brown with a wavy pattern, and hindwings that are orange with a brown trailing edge. The moths have a wingspan of about 12 cms.


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

    They are found over the northern two-thirds of Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 412.

    H.E. Groth,
    The life history of Metamimas australasiae Donovan (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), The Australian Entomologist, Volume 22, Part 3 (September 1995), pp. 91-95.

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