Pararguda rufescens (Walker, 1855)
(also known as : Digglesia rufescens)
 LASIOCAMPINAE ,   LASIOCAMPIDAE

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

Pararguda rufescens
(Photo: courtesy of Richard Glatz, SARDI Entomology, South Australia)

The caterpillars of this species are fawn and furry. The hairs hang down like a skirt over their legs The body has three black iconic marks on the back each having two small raised pink knobs.

Pararguda rufescens
(Photo: courtesy of Richard Glatz, SARDI Entomology, South Australia)

The caterpillars have been found feeding on: foliage of:

  • Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee ( Eucalyptus cneorifolia, MYRTACEAE ).

    Pararguda rufescens
    cocoon
    (Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Victoria)

    Pupation occurs in a silk cocoon spun between leaves of the foodplant.

    Pararguda rufescens
    (Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria)

    The adult moths have brown wings with scalloped edges. The males have forewings that have nearly a right angle at the tornus. The males have feathery antennae, and a wingspan of about 4 cms.

    Pararguda rufescens
    male
    (Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Victoria)

    The females have an obtuse angle at the tornus of each forewing, thread-like antennae, a fat abdomen, and a wingspan of about 5 cms.

    Pararguda rufescens
    female
    (Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Victoria)

    The species is found in Australia in:

  • New South Wales,
  • Queensland,
  • South Australia,
  • Tasmania,
  • Victoria, and
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 12.6, p. 389.

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria: Vol 1: Bombycoidea,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2008, pp. 6-9.

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    (updated 25 February 2010)