Nausinoe pueritia

Nausinoe pueritia (Cramer, [1870])
(previously known as : Phalaena pueritia)
SPILOMELINI , PYRAUSTINAE , CRAMBIDAE

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

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

These Caterpillars are green and live singly in a rolled leaf of their foodplant. They have been found feeding on the leaves of a hybrid

Chinese Bellflower ( Abutilon species ( MALVACEAE ).

The caterpillar grows to a length of about 2 cms.

The adult moth of this species is pale brown, with complex white markings edged in dark brown over each wing, including a long hook-shaped mark near the tornus of each hindwing. It has a long brown and white abdomen. In its resting position, it holds its antennae swept back over the forewings. The moth has a wingspan of about 3 cms.

The species is found over tropical south-east Asia, including :

Thailand,
as well as in Australia in

Queensland, and

New South Wales.