Amerila crokeri ( W.S. Macleay, 1826 )
(one synonym : Rhodogastria salomis)
Croker's Frother
 ARCTIINAE ,   ARCTIIDAE ,   NOCTUOIDEA

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

Amerila crokeri

This adult moth has an amazing defence mechanism, shared by other moths of the genus Amerila. When disturbed, it exudes a frothy yellow fluid from glands beside the eyes, and makes a sizzling noise!

Similar behaviour has been observed in fertilised females of the North-American moth Utetheisa ornatrix which is also in ARCTIIDAE.

Amerila crokeri

It has a wingspan of about 5 cms.

The species is found in :

  • New South Wales,
  • Queensland, and
  • Northern Territory.

    Further reading :

    David Carter,
    Butterflies and Moths, Collins Eyewitness Handbooks, Sydney 1992, p. 277.

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 434.

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    (updated 12 September 2011)