Hyalarcta nigrescens (Doubleday, 1845)
(one synonym :
Hyalarcta ptiloclada)
PSYCHIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 21 July 2009)
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These Caterpillars live and pupate in a silken case.
Initially the case has sparse bits of debris attached to it.
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(Photo: courtesy of Andy Doldissen, Sydney)
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Later it develops several longitudinal ribs,
and becomes quite bare, unlike many other
species in PSYCHIDAE which cover their
case in pieces of vegetation.
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(Photo: courtesy of
Bruce Anstee)
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The Caterpillars normally only protrude the head and thorax,
which have a hard orange and dark blue skin,
from their case.
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The abdomen is greyish and soft,
so they normally keep that inside the protective case.
caterpillar inside its cut open case
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The Caterpillars have been found feeding on:
Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus,
MYRTACEAE ).
The case can grow to a length of up to 4 cms.
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(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)
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When metamorphosis is complete, the male extrudes the pupa
from the posterior end of the case in order to emerge.
male adult
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)
The male is has a hairy black head and body,
with a fringe of white hairs around the head
and a tuft of yellow hairs on the tip of the abdomen.
The fore wings are transparent and the hind wings are blue.
Mummified female
The female is wingless, with a tiny head and thorax.
She stays within her case for fertilisation,
and lays her eggs within the case.
When the eggs hatch, the small Caterpillars move to the outside
of the case and onto the food plant. Though only about 3mm long,
these small Caterpillars each have a small conical case,
which they hold perpendicular to the surface they are on.
The species is found in
Queensland,
New South Wales,
Victoria, and
South Australia.
Further reading :
Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia,
Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 180.
