The Caterpillar rests by day on the underside of a leaf, or in a hollowed out stem of the food plant. It grows to a length of about 4 cms.

The pupa is brown and formed in a cell in the soil. Its length is about 2 cms.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The adult moth of this species is black with white splotches on the forewings, and a pale yellow bar across each hindwing.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The species closely resembles Cruria donowani, but the central white spot on each forewing is larger, and the hindwing bar is yellower and less ragged.

(Photo: courtesy ofTrevor Jinks, North Burnett)

The adult moths are unusual in that when they rest on a vertical surface, they turn so that the head is downward. They also have a characteristic spiralling flight, and emit a squeaking sound.

(Photo: courtesy of Carol Buchanan)

The species is found in the coastal regions of southern Queensland and New South Wales. The moths have a wingspan of about 5 cms.

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 22.30, p. 464.

John T. Moss, Life history notes on the day-flying moth Cruria synopla Turner, 1903 and its distinction from C. donowani (Boisduval, 1832) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae),
Metamorphosis Issue 39 (December 2010) pp.4-8.

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(updated 13 December 2010)