
| and Stella Crossley (updated 12 March 2010) |
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Many Caterpillars of this family adopt a characteristic posture when they feel threatened: they raise the tail and the head to make a U shape. Many of the species of NOTODONTIDAE have Caterpillars with reduced anal prolegs and several humps on their backs. Some are hairy and some are smooth except for a few spines and fleshy tubercles. Those with hairs and spines can cause urticaria in sensitive people. The Caterpillars typically remain exposed on the foodplant by day, although the adult moths are nocturnal fliers.
The 80 named Australian species of NOTODONTIDAE are:
Aglaosoma variegata
Cerura australis
Cerura multipunctata
Epicoma argentata
Epicoma contristis
Epicoma derbyana
Epicoma melanospila : Black Spot Moth
Epicoma melanosticta
Epicoma pontificalis
Epicoma protrahens
Epicoma tristis
Epicoma zelotes
Hylaeora capucina
Hylaeora caustopis
Hylaeora dilucida
Hylaeora eucalypti
Ochrogaster lunifer : Processionary Caterpillar
Trichiocercus sparshalli
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