Syntherata escarlata

Syntherata escarlata Lane, Edwards & Naumann, 2010
SATURNIIDAE, BOMBYCOIDEA

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

Syntherata escarlata
(Photo: courtesy of Scott Gavins, Fraser Coast, Queensland)

The first instars of these Caterpillars are yellow with black lines and black saddle marks. Mature caterpillars are green with a pale yellow line along each side, and have red tubercles along the back, with pale yellow setae. In this way they differ from those of the related species Syntherata janetta which has green tubercles.

(Photo: courtesy of Ethan Beaver, Kuranda, Queensland)

The caterpillars have been found feeding on

Red Ash ( Alphitonia excelsa, RHAMNACEAE ), and

Little Evodia ( |Melicope rubra, RUTACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Ethan Beaver, Kuranda, Queensland)

The caterpillars pupate in round brown stiff cocoons attached to a twig and leaves of its foodplant.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Ethan Beaver, Kuranda, Queensland)

There is some variation in the coloration of adults of this species. The basic adult moth is yellow with three zig-zag brown lines across each forewing. The forewings also each have a small brown-outlined transparent dot in the middle. The hindwings have two zig-zag brown lines and a submarginal arc of dark spots.

female
(Photo: courtesy of Ethan Beaver, Kuranda, Queensland)

However, the wings can have large rusty brown areas The males have rounded tips to the forewings. In this way they differ from those of the related species Syntherata janetta. The moth typically has a wingspan of 11 cms.