Both sexes of adult moth have greyish-brown wings. The hind wings become paler toward the bases. Each forewing has an indistinct dark spot near the middle. This species is the smallest in the genus, with a wingspan of about 4.5 cms.

The eggs are laid in a distinctive formation, at a slight angle to the substrate, and slightly overlapping each other, like roof shingles. The eggs are initially bluish-green, changing later to become transparent. They appear to hatch after rain.

This species only occurs in Tasmania.

female
(Photo: copyright Cathy Young)

Further reading :

Peter B. McQuillan, Catherine J. Young, and A.M.M. Richardson, A revision of the Australian moth genus Paralaea Guest (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae), Invertebrate Taxonomy, Volume 15, part 3 (2001), pp. 277-317.

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(updated 4 March 2005)