Opsirhina alphaea (Fabricius, 1775)
(one synonym is: Odonestis hiaropa Lower, 1900)
LASIOCAMPINAE ,   LASIOCAMPIDAE

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

Opsirhina alphaea
(Photo: courtesy of Craig Nieminski, Darwin)

This is a brown hairy caterpillar, with a pale dorsal stripe, and two black spots behind the thorax. It feeds on:

  • various species of Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).

    Opsirhina alphaea
    female
    (Photo: courtesy of Craig Nieminski, Darwin)

    The adult moths are stout and brown with a white spot in the middle of each forewing.

    Opsirhina alphaea
    male
    (Photo : courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville)

    The male has a wingspan of about 3 cms. The female about 3.5 cms.

    Opsirhina alphaea
    eggs, magnified
    (Photo: courtesy of Craig Nieminski, Darwin)

    The eggs are cream mottled with brown, and each has two brown spots. They are laid in a jumbled mass on a twig.

    Opsirhina alphaea
    (Photo: courtesy of Craig Nieminski, Darwin)

    The species occurs in :

  • Northern Territory, and
  • Queensland.

    Opsirhina alphaea
    female
    (Photo: courtesy of Craig Nieminski, Darwin)

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    (updated 12 September 2011)