Amerila serica Meyrick, 1886
 (erroneously Rhodogastria sericea)
ARCTIINI,   ARCTIINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
  
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Amerila serica
(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

The adult moth of this species has forewings that are a uniform translucent pale brown. The hindwings are paler, and have a broad fringe of hairs along the hind margin. The moth has a number of black spots: one on the head, ten on the thorax, and one at the base of each wing. The antennae, legs, and the abdomen are partly red. The wingspan is about 5 cms.

Amerila serica
frothing moth
(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

When disturbed, the moth exudes a froth from behind the head.

The species is found in in Australia in:

  • Northern Territory, and
  • Queensland

    Amerila serica
    (Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 434.

    Wesley Jenkinson,
    Moths photographed at Obum Obum,
    Butterflies and Other Invertebrates Club,
    Metamorphosis Australia,
    Issue 73 (June 2014), p. 31.

    Edward Meyrick,
    Revision of Australian Lepidoptera. I,
    Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales,
    Series 2, Volume 1, Part 3 (1886), p. 765, No. 106.

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    (updated 27 April 2008, 12 July 2024)