(Photo: courtesy of David Akers, Won Wron, Victoria)

The caterpillar grows to a length of about 1.5 cms. The caterpillar pupates in a soil cell, and emerges after one to three weeks in summer.

female, grey form
(Photo: courtesy of Marilyn Hewish, Moths of Victoria: Part 7)

The female is grey or brown with an interesting wavy pattern, and has a wingspan of typically 3 cms.

male, brown form
(Photo: courtesy of Catherine J. Young)

The male is smaller, also grey or brown, with a wingspan typically up to about 2.5 cms. Both sexes have bipectinate antennae. Beneath is uniformly grey with a small discal dot often on the female.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Catherine J. Young)

The eggs are oval and orange with a microscopic set of ridges along and around each egg.

eggs, magnified
(Photo: courtesy of Catherine J. Young)

The species is found over much of eastern Australia, including:

underside
(Photo: courtesy of John Bromilow, Mount Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory)

Further reading :

Marilyn Hewish,
Moths of Victoria: Part 7,
Bark Moths and Allies - GEOMETROIDEA (D),
Entomological Society of Victoria, 2016, pp. 18-19, 24-25.

Francis Walker,
Geometrites,
List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
Part 21 (1860), p. 392, No. 123.

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(updated 24 July 2013, 26 April 2023)