Paralaea taggorum McQuillan, Young & Richardson, 2001
 NACOPHORINI, ENNOMINAE,
GEOMETRIDAE

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

(updated 4 March 2005)


male
(Photo: copyright Cathy Young)

The early instars of these Caterpillars are deep lemon-yellow to light green with a broad grey dorsal band, and a brown head. Mature larvae are green with faint reddish-brown dots, and a narrow, continuous pale yellow lateral stripe. The head is green with maroon crown.

The Caterpillars feed on the foliage of :

  • various Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).


    male
    (Photo: copyright Cathy Young)

    Both sexes of adult moth have grey wings showing darker grey veins. The hind wings become paler toward the bases. Each wing has a dark spot near the middle. When resting, the moths hold their wings folded over the back like a tent, unlike many other Geometrid species. The moths have a wingspan of about 5.5 cms.

    This species occurs only in Tasmania.


    female
    (Photo: copyright Cathy Young)

    Further reading :

    Peter B. McQuillan, Catherine J. Young, and A.M.M. Richardson, A revision of the Australian moth genus Paralaea Guest (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae), Invertebrate Taxonomy, Volume 15, part 3 (2001), pp. 277-317.

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