Eustixis caminaea (Meyrick, 1887)
(previously known as : Lactura caminaea)
LACTURIDAE

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

Eustixis caminaea
(Specimen: courtesy of Bruce Tuxford)

The Caterpillars of this species are slug-like, with no obvious legs. They are white with rusty-brown patches. They feed on:

  • Port Jackson Fig ( Ficus rubiginosa, MORACEAE ),

    and grow to a length of about 1.5 cms.

    They pupate in a papery cocoon between two leaves or in a niche somewhere.

    Eustixis caminaea
    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    The adult moth has forewings which are scarlet with several yellow spots of various sizes. The hindwings are a silky orange, darkening toward the margin. Its wingspan is about 2 cms. The species occurs in southern Queensland and in New South Wales.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 7.25, p. 299.

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 111.

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    (updated 1 November 2010)