Proteuxoa tortisigna

Proteuxoa tortisigna (Walker, [1857])
(one synonym: Agrotis antipoda)
AMPHIPYRINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

Proteuxoa tortisigna
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

Various specimens of this Caterpillar collected in Sydney appeared to be feeding on:

Grass ( POACEAE ),

Geranium ( Pelargonium x zonale, GERANIACEAE ), and

dead leaves of Daffodil ( Narcissus pseudonarcissus, AMARYLLIDACEAE ).

However, specimens were found in September in Melbourne while weeding the garden which appeared to hide during the day, and feed at night on:

Grass ( POACEAE ).

The body colour of the Caterpillar is brown, with a light and dark brown tweed-like pattern along the back. The head capsule is black. The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 3 cms.

The Caterpillar pupates in the soil, and the adult usually emerges about six months later.

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

The adult has forewings which are brown except for a cream band along the costa, and a cream dot which merges into the margin. The hindwings are pale brown. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

The species occurs over southern Australia, including:

Australian Capital Territory,

Victoria, and

South Australia.

The species appears as Illustration number 27 in Plate CXXXI of Hampson's Noctuidae of the British Museum, 1903-1913.