Theretra queenslandi

Theretra queenslandi (T.P. Lucas, 1891)
(one synonym : Chaerocampa potentia Druce, 1894)
MACROGLOSSINAE, SPHINGIDAE, BOMBYCOIDEA

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

early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Brisbane, Queensland)

The early instars of these Caterpillars are green with a dark straight tail horn, and a pair of blue eye markings on the first abdominal segment. The early instars stay on the the undersides of the leaves, and eat holes in the leaves while avoiding eating the veins.

green form
(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Brisbane, Queensland)

Later instars have two colour forms: green and brown. The green form has a yellow line along each side of the back, above a series of diagonal stripes along the sides of the abdomen. The brown form is speckled, and has alternating bands of pale and darker brown bands. Both colour forms have a pair of green and white eyespots, one each side of the first abdominal segment, and have a strong reddish backward curving horn on the last segment.

brown form
(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Brisbane, Queensland)

The caterpillars have been found feeding on plants in URTICACEAE including

Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa), and

Australian Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus).

The caterpillars grow to length of about 7 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Brisbane, Queensland)

The caterpillars pupate on the ground in a strong cocoon covered in debris. The pupa is slender and mottled brown, with a sharply pointed tip to the abdomen. The pupa has a length of about 5.5 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Brisbane, Queensland)

The adult moths of this species have pale brown forewings with a dark dot near the middle of the costa. They also have a dark stripe from base to wingtip, which shades paler on the side nearer the costa.

northern form, with extra dark forewing stripe
Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, listed as Theretra radiosa, from
Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art

Specimens from the far north often have an extra dark stripe on the each forewing. The moths have darker brown hindwings, each with a pale hind margin, and a pale patch by the tornus. The moths have a wingspan from 8-10 cms.

The eggs are yellow slightly squashed spheres. They are laid on the undersides of foodplant leaves.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The species occurs in

Queensland, and

New South Wales.

Many Australian specimens previously thought to be Theretra radiosa have been shown actually to be Theretra queenslandi.