This adult moth has a spectacular pattern, with bold white lines and two large eyespots. Note how the diagonal lines on the wings link up when the moth is at rest to give it a false axis.

The moth has a penchant for facing downward when clinging to a vertical surface. In this orientation: one might imagine that it is a huge face with a slightly open mouth and a striped nose. The moth has a wingspan of about 5 cms.

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

The species is found over the northern half of Australia, in

New South Wales.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Scott Gavins, Fraser Coast, Queensland)

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Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 21.14, p. 454.

Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 192.

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(updated 22 March 2013)