Mochlotona phasmatias Meyrick, 1892
Draped Geometrid
(one synonym : Haploceras sphenotypa Turner, 1947)
DIPTYCHINI,   ENNOMINAE,   GEOMETRIDAE,   GEOMETROIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Mochlotona phasmatias
(Photo: courtesy of Pat & Mike Coupar, Moths of Victoria: Part 5)

The Caterpillars of this species are green with white spots, and a dorsal black and white saddle on each abdominal segemnt. The head is black and white, with a brown face. Abdominal segments 1,2,3, and 8 each have a hairy dorsal wart tipped with two long hairs. The first three pairs of prolegs are vestigial. The caterpillars have been found feeding on

  • Daisy Bush ( Olearia phlogopappa, ASTERACEAE ).

    Mochlotona phasmatias
    male
    (Photo: courtesy of Pat & Mike Coupar, Moths of Victoria: Part 5)

    The adult moths of this species are pale grey or brown with a scattering of variable brown and black marks on each forewing. The hindwings each have a broad dark margin. The wingspan is about 6 cms. The resting posture for this moth has the wings flat with the forewings covering the hindwings.

    Mochlotona phasmatias
    (Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Blackheath, New South Wales)

    The species has been found in:

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales, and
  • Victoria.

    Mochlotona phasmatias
    male
    (Photo: courtesy of Marilyn Hewish, Moths of Victoria: Part 5)


    Further reading

    Marilyn Hewish,
    Moths of Victoria: Part 5,
    Satin Moths and Allies - GEOMETROIDEA (A)
    ,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2014, pp. 6-7, 26-27.

    Edward Meyrick,
    Revision of Australian Lepidoptera V,
    Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales,
    Series 2, Volume 6, Part 4 (1891), p. 673, No. 111.


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    (updated 19 June 2011, 27 February 2021)