Enispa prolectus

Enispa prolectus (Turner, 1908)
(previously known as Micraeschus prolectus)
ACONTIINAE, NOCTUIDAE, NOCTUOIDEA

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

Enispa prolectus
(Photo: courtesy of David Rentz, Kuranda, Queensland)

This Caterpillar feeds on

Lichen.

(Photo: courtesy of Nick Monaghan, Tewantin National Park, Queensland)

It also covers itself completely in little bits of Lichen.

(Photo: courtesy of David Rentz, Kuranda, Queensland)

It has reduced prolegs, so walks in a looper fashion. The caterpillar grows to a length of about 2.5 cms.

suspended cocoon
(Photo: courtesy of David Rentz, Kuranda, Queensland)

It pupates in a cocoon also covered in lichen which it hangs from some suitable support. The cocoon proper has a length of about 1 cm.

(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda, Queensland)

The adult moth of this species has pale brown wings with narrow dark brown margins. The forewings each have an irregular subterminal dark band, and a black spot near the middle, and a hooked shape at the wingtip. The hindwings have a narrow irregular white subtermianl line. The wingspan is about 2 cms.

The species is found in Australia in

Northern Territory, and

Queensland.

Further reading :

Buck Richardson,
Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 114.

A. Jefferis Turner,
Studies in Australian Lepidoptera,
Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia,
Volume 32 (1908), p. 70.