This caterpillar is black, with white spots on the thorax, and has six red true legs at the front, and two red dorsal glands on the rear.

head and thorax
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott)

The caterpillar is superficially similar to that of Euproctis melanosoma. The cocoon is different.

empty cocoon
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott)

The cocoon of Orvasca semifusca is barrel-like, whereas that of Euproctis melanosoma is a fluffy mess.

male
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The adult male moth has a brown body, and dark brown forewings. The hindwings are orange. The male moth has a wingspan of about 2 cms.

female
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott)

The female is black with white legs and a wide brown tuft on her tail. The female has long narrow forewings, and tiny hindwings, and cannot fly.

The species is found in

Victoria.

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Further reading :

Peter Marriott,
Moths of Victoria: Vol 2: Noctuoidea(A),
Entomological Society of Victoria, 2009, pp. 18-19.

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(updated 2 August 2010)