ZYGAENIDAE of Australia Foresters and Burnet Moths ZYGAENOIDEA

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

ZYGAENIDAE caterpillar

ZYGAENIDAE moths

ZYGAENIDAE undersides

This family has moths very brightly coloured in metallic-looking oranges, blacks, greens and blues. The adult moths of many species in this family are day-flying, in contrast to their Caterpillars which are nocturnal feeders. The moths can release the poisonous gas Hydrogen Cyanide, which may account for their warning colours. The 43 named Australian species of ZYGAENIDAE are:

Aictis erythrozona

Australartona mirabilis

Hestiochora occidentalis
Hestiochora queenslandensis
Hestiochora tricolor
Hestiochora xanthocoma

Homophylotis artonoides
Homophylotis pseudothyridota

Myrtartona mariannae
Myrtartona rufiventris

Onceropyga anelia
Onceropyga pulchra

Palmartona catoxantha

Pollanisus acharon
Pollanisus angustifrons
Pollanisus apicalis
Pollanisus calliceros
Pollanisus commoni
Pollanisus contrastus
Pollanisus cupreus
Pollanisus cyanota
Pollanisus edwardsi
Pollanisus empyrea
Pollanisus eumetopus

Pollanisus hyacinthus
Pollanisus incertus

Pollanisus isolatus
Pollanisus lithopastus
Pollanisus marriotti

Pollanisus nielseni
Pollanisus subdolosa
Pollanisus trimacula
Pollanisus viridipulverulenta : Satin-Green Forester

Pseudoamuria neglecta
Pseudoamuria uptoni

Thyrassia inconcinna

Turneriprocris dolens

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(updated 28 October 2014, 9 October 2024)