Allata indistincta

Allata indistincta (Rothschild, 1917)
(formerly known as Spatalia indistincta)
NOTODONTINAE, NOTODONTIDAE, NOCTUOIDEA

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

Allata indistincta
early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

The Caterpillars of this species are smooth and brown with a large head, and a pale double lump on the last segment.

(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

Later instars develop scattered pale spots, and a bulbous prothorax.

head

tail

(Photos: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

The caterpillars feed on various plants in FABACEAE, including

Indian Beech (Millettia pinnata).

pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

The caterpillars can grow to a length of about 6 cms. The caterpillars pupate in a silky cocoon between leaves of the foodplant.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Matthew Connors, Townsville, Queensland)

The adult moths have dark brown wings that have complex dimorphic patterns. The males have two angular white patches on each forewing, and a forked tuft of long scales on the tip of the abdomen.

male
(Photos: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

The females have a broad pale streak on each forewing.

female
(Photos: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

Both sexes have forewing hind margins each have two concave arcs. The hindwings are pale brown. The wingspan is about 7 cms.

male
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The species has been found in

Queensland.

head close-up, male
(Photos: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

underside, male
(Photos: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)

underside, female
(Photos: courtesy of Dick Whitford, Mt. Molloy, Queensland)