Corymica pryeri (Butler, 1878)
 (previously known as : Thiopsyche pryeri)
HYPOCHROSINI ,   ENNOMINAE ,   GEOMETRIDAE

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

Corymica pryeri
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The caterpillar of this species is thin and smooth, and is green with black markings. It has reduced prolegs, and walks in a looper fashion.

It has been found to feed on plants from the family LAURACEAE, including:

  • Spicebush ( Lindera ),
  • Bollygum ( Neolitsea ),
  • Wintersweet ( Meratia praecox ), and
  • Machilus ( Persea thunbergii ).

    The caterpillar pupates in a sparse orange cocoon among the leaves of its foodplant.

    The wings of the adult moth are pale green, with sparse brown markings, including a cusp-shaped marginal band on each forewing. The forewing inner margins are also cusp-shaped, with an elliptical transparent window near the base.

    When disturbed, the moth creases its forewings which hides the brown margins, and reveals the two transparent areas, which make it resemble the face of a large creature. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

    The species has been found in :

  • Borneo,
  • China,
  • Korea,
  • New Guinea,
  • Taiwan,
    and in Australia in:
  • Queensland.

    Further reading :

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 143.

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    (updated 7 February 2010)