Pararguda ecnoma (Turner, 1924) Western Pararguda (formerly known as Digglesia ecnoma) LASIOCAMPINAE,   LASIOCAMPIDAE,   BOMBYCOIDEA

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

female
(Photo: courtesy of Paul Kay, Jurien Bay, Western Australia)

The adult moth of this species is white with zigzag bands of dark grey spots on the forewings. The hindwings are dark grey, each with a white band along the margin, and a white patch on the hind-margin. The female moths have thread-like antennae, and a wingspan of about 6 cms.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Mark Heath, Yellowdine, Western Australia)

The male has a similar pattern, but has feathery antennae, and a wingspan of about 4 cms. There is also a dark form with pale brown rather than white forewings, and nearly black hindwings.

male, dark form
(Photo: courtesy of Paul Kay, Jurien Bay, Western Australia)

The species has been found in:

Western Australia.

underside, male
(Photo: courtesy of Mark Heath, Yellowdine, Western Australia)

The adult moths have vestigial degenerate mouth-parts, like all BOMBYCOIDEA, so cannot feed.

close-up, under head, male
(Photo: courtesy of Mark Heath, Yellowdine, Western Australia)

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Further reading :

A. Jefferis Turner,
Revision of Australian Lepidoptera. Lasiocampidae.,
Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales,
Volume 49 (1924), p. 422, No. 40.

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(written 14 May 2022, updated 20 September 2022)