Cyme reticulata (C. Felder, 1861) (one synonym: Barsine intrita Swinhoe, 1892) LITHOSIINI,   ARCTIINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans, (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Graeme Cocks & Stella Crossley

(Photo: courtesy of Dave Voice, Biosecurity New Zealand)

These caterpillars are black and hairy, with a broad white stripe along each side enveloping the row of black spiracles. The head is dark brown.

normal cryptic posture
(Photo: courtesy of David Rentz, Kuranda, Queensland)

The caterpillars normally keep their pale lateral lines and head out of sight, even when walking.

cocoon underside, scraped off the surface to which it was attached, showing the pupa inside
(Photo: courtesy of David Rentz, Kuranda, Queensland)

The caterpillars pupate in a cocoon decorated with hairs from its skin. It looks just like the caterpillar, only it is, of course, stationary. It has a length of about 2.2 cms. The pupa inside has a length of about 0.55 cms. The cocoon is attached to some nearby surface.

(Photo: courtesy of Bill Farnsworth, Innisfail, Queensland)

The adult moths of this species have forewings that vary from yellow to orange, each with a reticulated pattern of thick grey lines. The hindwings are plain yellow. The wingspan is about 2 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland, listed as Lyclene/gvcT01472)

The species has been found in

Queensland.

This species shows some variations in the colour and pattern which overlap those of other species in Cyme.

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Further reading :

Baron Cajetan von Felder,
Lepidopterorum Amboinensium a Dre. L. Doleschall annis 1856-58 collectorum species novae,
Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien,
Volume 43, Part 1 (1861), p. 36, No. 83.

Buck Richardson,
Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 20.

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(updated 5 August 2008, 25 July 2020, 6 March 2022)