(one synonym : Agarista contorta)
Mistletoe Moth
AGARISTINAE , NOCTUIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 12 July 2008)
(Photo: courtesy of
Otto Rogge Photography)
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 12 July 2008)
(Photo: courtesy of
Otto Rogge Photography)
The body of this Caterpillar is black with white spots, and it has brown legs, head, and tail. When disturbed it rears up, lifting its head and thorax. It feeds on:
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.
The adult is a day-flying moth, with a wingspan of up to 5 cm.
The species is found in all the mainland states of Australia. The biology of this species was illustrated by Arthur Bartholomew in 1861 (although the picture is misnamed) .
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.
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