Anthela varia

Anthela varia (Walker, 1855)
(one synonym : Darala pinguis)
ANTHELINAE , ANTHELIDAE

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

Anthela varia
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

This caterpillar begins life as one of a row of eggs laid by its mother. The newly hatched Caterpillars are black with a white thorax and long sparse grey hairs. They mainly seem to feed on the leaves of:

Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ),
but they have also been found on plants in other families, incuding

Macadamia Nuts ( Macadamia integrifolia, PROTEACEAE ),

Willow ( Salix, SALICACEAE ), and

Pecan ( Carya, JUGLANDACEAE ).

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

The caterpillars grow to a length of about 7 cms. When mature, they become brown with long dense tufts of white hair on the sides between each pair of segments.

Cocoon cut open to reveal pupa
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

They pupate in a buff papery double-walled cocoon among dead leaves or under a log.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The adult moths vary in colour from yellow to brown, with a zig-zag submarginal line, and often a brown-edged yellow midline across each wing. The forewings each have two dark spots, and the hindwings one. The females can have wingspans up to 9 cms. The males are somewhat smaller.