Ophiusa tirhaca

Ophiusa tirhaca (Cramer, 1777)
(one synonym is : Anua clementi Swinhoe, 1918)
CATOCALINAE , NOCTUIDAE

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

Ophiusa tirhaca
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The caterpillars of this species have been found feeding on plants from a variety of families, including

Terebinth ( Pistacia terebinthus, ANACARDIACEAE ),

Daphne (Daphne, THYMELAEACEAE )

Heather ( Erica, ERICACEAE )

Sandalwood ( Osyris, SANTALACEAE )

Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE )

Bushwillow ( Combretum, COMBRETACEAE )

Viburnum ( Viburnum, CAPRIFOLIACEAE )

Rock Rose ( Cistus, CISTACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The adult moth has forewings basically which can be any colour between green and brown, each forewing having a darker broad irregular band along the margin, and a black mark about halfway along the costa. The hindwings are yellow, each having a broad but broken dark submarginal band. The wingspan is about 5 cms.

The species occurs in :

Europe,

Africa,

Asia,
and in Australia in

New South Wales, and

Queensland.