Didymoctenia exsuperata (Walker, 1860) (previously known as Boarmia exsuperata) Thick-lined Bark Moth BOARMIINI,   ENNOMINAE,   GEOMETRIDAE,   GEOMETROIDEA

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

(Photo: copyright Cathy Byrne)

The early instars of this Caterpillar are off-white with some small dark dots, and a pale brown head.

(Photo: copyright Cathy Byrne)

Later instars are green with some black spots, and have a reddish-brown head.

(Photo: copyright Cathy Byrne)

The last instar is green but nearly covered in black dots.

male pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Steve Williams, Moths of Victoria: Part 7)

The pupa is greenish brown. The pupa of a male clearly shows the pectinations developing on the antennae.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Moths of Victoria: Part 7)

The adult moths are grey or brown with a variable complex pattern of light and dark markings, often including two incomplete wavy black lines across each hindwing, one across each forewing, and one across the thorax. The females have thread-like antennae. The males have feathery antennae with four rami per segment. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

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

The species has been found in:

South Australia.

underside
(Photo: copyright of Brett and Marie Smith, at Ellura Sanctuary)

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Further reading :

Marilyn Hewish,
Moths of Victoria: Part 7,
Bark Moths and Allies - GEOMETROIDEA (D),
Entomological Society of Victoria, 2016, pp. 18-19, 22-23.

Francis Walker,
Geometrites (continued),
List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
Part 21 (1860), p. 393, No. 124.

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(updated 24 July 2013, 6 July 2018, 13 October 2020)