Comocrus behri

Comocrus behri (Angas, 1847)
(one synonym : Agarista contorta)
Mistletoe Moth
AGARISTINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

(updated 9 December 2009)

Comocrus behri
(Photographed at Yulara, Northern Territory)

The body of this Caterpillar is black with white spots, and it has brown legs, head, and tail.

defensive posture
(Photographed at Yulara, Northern Territory)

When disturbed it rears up, lifting its head and thorax. It feeds on:

Mistletoe ( LORANTHACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Brenda Martin, Pambula, NSW)

The adult moths have wings that are black with white straight and zigzag lines. The abdomen is black on top and has orange stripes underneath, and a scarlet tuft on the tail.

(Photo: courtesy of Brenda Martin, Pambula, NSW)

The adult is a day-flying moth, with a wingspan of up to 5 cm.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The biology of this species was illustrated by Arthur Bartholomew in 1861 (although the picture is misnamed).

The species is found on mainland Australia, including:

Australian Capital Territory,

New South Wales,

Queensland,

Victoria, and

Western Australia.

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 447, 464.

Pat and Mike Coupar,
Flying Colours, New South Wales University Press, Sydney 1992, p. 68.

caterpillar

Australian
Australian Butterflies

butterflies

Australian
home

caterpillars

Australian
Australian Moths

moths

caterpillar