Poecilasthena pulchraria (Doubleday, 1843)
Australian Cranberry Moth
(previously known as : Acidalia pulchraria)
 ASTHENINI ,   LARENTIINAE ,   GEOMETRIDAE

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

Poecilasthena pulchraria
(Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Aranda)

The caterpillars of this species feed on various plants in the family EPACRIDACEAE, including the genera:

  • Epacris,
  • Gaultheria,
  • Leucopogon,
  • Monotoca, and
  • Vaccinium.

    Poecilasthena pulchraria
    (Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Upper Beaconsfield)

    The adult moth is pale green with lots of wiggly white lines across the wings. The costa of each forewing is brown. The wingspan is about 2.5 cms.

    The species is found across southern Australiasia, including:

  • New Zealand,
    as well as in Australia in:
  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria,
  • Tasmania,
  • South Australia, and
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 37.16, p. 376.

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    (updated 17 September 2011)