Hypodoxa emiliaria (Guenée, 1857)
 (one synonym : Hypochroma aurantiacea T.P. Lucas, 1891)
GEOMETRINAE,   GEOMETRIDAE,   GEOMETROIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley


(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Julatten, Queensland)

The caterpillars of this species are thin green loopers with pointed ends, although the head actually has two red-tipped horns held close together,


(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Julatten, Queensland)

The caterpillars feed on the foliage of

  • Gum trees (Eucalyptus species, MYRTACEAE).


    pupa in opened cocoon
    (Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Julatten, Queensland)

    The caterpillars grow to a length of about 4.5 cms.


    tightly folded leaf containing the cocoon and pupa
    (Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Julatten, Queensland)

    The caterpillars pupate in a tightly folded leaf.


    (Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland)

    The adult moths are variable: usually an earthy grey with patterned bands of darker grey across the wings.

    The undersides are bright yellow with broad brown margins, white patches, and a dark spot near the middle of each wing. The wingspan is about 4 cms.

    The species is found in

  • New Guinea,

    as well as in Australia in:

  • Queensland, and
  • New South Wales.


    underside
    (Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland)

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig 37.10, p. 372.

    Achille Guenée,
    Uranides et Phalénites,
    in Boisduval & Guenée: Histoire Naturelle des Insectes; Spécies Général des Lépidoptères,
    Volume 9, Part 9 (1857), p. 280, No. 447.

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    (updated 20 July 2010, 16 July 2020)