Hestiochora continentalis

Hestiochora continentalis Tarmann, 2005
PROCRIDINAE, ZYGAENIDAE, ZYGAENOIDEA

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

Hestiochora continentalis
(Photo: courtesy of Stephen Williams, Eppalock, Victoria)

The Caterpillars of this species are hairy and black, with a broad white dorsal line, and a broad red line along each side. The caterpillars have been found eating just the surface of mature leaves of Gum trees (MYRTACEAE), particularly the species:

Pink Gum (Eucalyptus fasciculosa), and

Grey Box (Eucalyptus_microcarpa).

(Photo: courtesy of Paul Polito, Bramley, Western Australia)

The adult moths have dark brown forewings, each with two translucent stripes. The head is red, the thorax black, and abdomen is black except for the first three and the penultimate segments which are white. The wingspan is about 1.3 cms.