Nisista species
 DIPTYCHINI,   ENNOMINAE,   GEOMETRIDAE,   GEOMETROIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Cathy Byrne & Stella Crossley


first instar
(Photo: copyright Cathy Byrne)

These Caterpillars are initially black with white patches. Later they become brown, shading to rusty red on the back and greenish underneath.. They feed on a variety of plants, including:

  • various bipinnate Wattles ( Acacia, MIMOSACEAE ).


    mature larva
    (Photo: copyright Cathy Byrne)

    The adult moths are pale brown with dark markings. At rest, the moths hold their wings folded like a tent.


    (Photo: copyright Cathy Byrne)

    The eggs are oval with rows of fine dimples. Initially the eggs are pale yellowish green, later becoming red as hatching approaches.


    eggs, magnified
    (Photo: copyright Cathy Byrne)

    Further reading :

    Peter B. McQuillan,
    An overview of the Tasmanian geometrid moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and its conservation status,
    Journal of Insect Conservation,
    Volume 8 (2004), Parts 2-3, pp. 209-220.

    Cathy Byrne,
    Characterisation of the Australian Nacophorini and a Phylogeny for the Geometridae from Molecular and Morphological Data,
    Ph.D. thesis, University of Tasmania, 2003.

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    (updated 12 May 2005, 12 February 2014)