Entometa chlorosacca (Walker, 1855)
(previously known as : Lebeda apicalis)
LASIOCAMPINAE ,   LASIOCAMPIDAE

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

Entometa chlorosacca
male
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Melbourne)

The adult moths of this species have brown wings with faint darker markings, including a darker spot near the centre of each forewing. The hindwings tend to orange.

Entometa chlorosacca
female
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Melbourne)

The males are smaller than, and have similar coloration to, the females, but have forewings that have a concave margin, and less obvious darker markings, except for the forewing dark spot. The males have feathery antennae, and the females have thread-like antennae. The females have a much fatter abdomen. The wingspan of the males is about 5 cms. The wingspan of the females is about 7 cms.

Entometa apicalis
cocoon
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Melbourne)

The species is unusual for using green silk to make its cocoon, which it hangs from a twig of the foodplant.

The species is found over much of Australia, including:

  • New South Wales,
  • Victoria,
  • South Australia,
  • Western Australia, and
  • Northern Territory.


    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 27.14, p. 390.

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria: Vol 1: Bombycoidea,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2008, pp. 10-11.


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    (updated 22 March 2009)