Comostola laesaria

Comostola laesaria (Walker, 1861)
(one synonym : Eucrostis perlepidaria Walker, 1866)
GEOMETRINAE, GEOMETRIDAE, GEOMETROIDEA

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

Comostola laesaria
(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

This caterpillar is a looper that has been described as pale green or brown. It has been feeding on the flowers of plants from many genera and families, including :

Chirauli Nut ( Buchanania species, ANACARDIACEAE ),

Mangoes ( Mangifera species, ANACARDIACEAE ),

Keima Tree ( Terminalia carolinensis, COMBRETACEAE ),

Memecylon ( MELASTOMATACEAE ),

Paperbarks ( Melaleuca species, MYRTACEAE ), and

Longans ( Dimocarpus species, SAPINDACEAE ).

The caterpillar pupates in a sparse cocoon incorporating bits of leaf.

The adult moths of this species are green with several red dots on each wing. The wingspan is about 2cms.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Dianne Clarke, Mapleton, Queensland)

This species has been found in the oriental tropics, including :

as well as in Australia in

Western Australia,

Northern Territory,

Queensland, and

New South Wales.

(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)