Varied Geometrid (formerly known as Cymatophora aspera) DIPTYCHINI, ENNOMINAE, GEOMETRIDAE, GEOMETROIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
(Photo: courtesy of Steve Williams,
Moths of Victoria: Part 5)
The Caterpillars of this species have short sparse stiff hairs, and are brown some dark spots on each segment and with a dark line along the back. The head has four dark marks. The caterpillars are thought to feed on the foliage of
The early instars feed only on the surface tissue of young leaves.
Th caterpillars pupate in a flimsy cocoon in the soil or debris.
The adult moths have pale brown or grey forewings, each with pattern including a set of three dark lines vaguely in the shape of a trident. The areas between the lines vary from grey to rusty brown. The hindwings are paler than the forewings and have very vague patterns. The moths have a wingspan of about 3 cms. In its natural posture, the moth is inclined to keep its forewings covering its hindwings.
The species occurs in Australia in
This species is currently named with an inappropriate genus, and is unplaced until a more suitable genus is described.
Further reading :
Marilyn Hewish,
Moths of Victoria: Part 5 - Satin Moths and Allies - GEOMETROIDEA (A),
Entomological Society of Victoria, 2014, pp. 16-17.
Francis Walker,
Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera,
List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
Part 32, Supplement 2 (1865), pp. 601-602.
caterpillar | butterflies | Lepidoptera | moths | caterpillar |
(written 15 January 2016, updated 12 September 2019)