Australian LYMANTRIINAE

Some moth species of LYMANTRIINAE in Australia
Tussock Moths
EREBIDAE, NOCTUOIDEA

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

LYMANTRIINAE

eggs

LYMANTRIINAE

caterpillars

LYMANTRIINAE

pupae

LYMANTRIINAE

moths

LYMANTRIINAE

undersides

LYMANTRIINAE

females

LYMANTRIINAE

forewings

The Tussock Moths are so-named because the Caterpillars of many members have four long dense dorsal tufts of hair. Many also have other hair pencils, and also two coloured dorsal glands on abdominal segments six and seven. These glands appear to exude a liquid which deters ants from attacking the caterpillars.

Many of the caterpillars are a pest for two reasons:

they attack cultivated plants, not just in Australia, but more seriously overseas, and

also, the hairs of many species cause skin irritation in some people (Urticaria and Dendrolimiasis).

If you or your people in your family are sensitive, you will have to be vigilant and collect any larvae that you see into say a jam-jar for transport a long way away. Killing in situ or even burning them is hazardous as the hairs from the dead larvae can blow about and cause more inflammation.

The caterpillars usually pupate within a cocoon incorporating their larval hairs. These hairs can cause more problems if the cocoons are handled, or if they disintegrate and the hairs are released to blow about.

The adults are short lived because they have a reduced haustellum and do not feed. In some species the females are wingless. Many of the caterpillars are very colourful.

Some taxonomists changed the scientific names of many species in LYMANTRIINAE after detailed morphological studies, particularly by Jeremy Holloway, as published in his more recent book "Moths of Borneo" (1999).

The 75 named Australian named members of LYMANTRIINAE are included in:

Acyphas amphideta
Acyphas chionitis : White Tussock Moth
Acyphas fulviceps
Acyphas leptotypa
Acyphas pelodes
Acyphas semiochrea : Omnivorous Tussock Moth
Acyphas species