Dissomorphia australiaria

Dissomorphia australiaria (Guenée, 1857)
(one synonym : Macaria remotaria Walker, 186l)
Dashed Geometrid
MACARIINI, ENNOMINAE, GEOMETRIDAE, GEOMETROIDEA

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

Dissomorphia australiaria
(Photo: courtesy of Steve Williams, Moths of Victoria: Part 7)

These Caterpillars are loopers, having most prolegs missing. Initially they are green with pale lines on the body, and a row of double black spots along each side.

(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley, Melbourne, Victoria)

The caterpillars have been found in Melbourne in January feeding on various bipinnate Wattles (MIMOSACEAE) including

Silver Wattle ( Acacia dealbata ), and

Black Wattle ( Acacia mearnsii ).

(Photo: courtesy of Cathy Byrne)

Later instars are a brighter green with white lines, and have a green head.

close-up of head and thorax
(Photo: courtesy of David Akers, Won Wron, Victoria)

The caterpillars typically rest at the tip of a branch where the green and white markings and slightly gnarled body match the foliage. The caterpillars grow to a length of about 2.5 cms.

Pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Steve Williams, Moths of Victoria: Part 7)

The pupa initially is green with a yellow abdomen, but when mature becomes brown.

Male
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley, Melbourne, Victoria)

The adult can emerge after as little as nine days. The adult moths are dimorphic. The males are pinkish brown, with brown markings including a chestnut brown spot in the middle of each forewing.

Female
(Photo: copyright Peter Marriott)

The female has more scalloped wings, variable markings, and often has an interesting silver white pattern underneath the wings. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

Female underside
(Photo: copyright Peter Marriott)

The eggs are pale green and laid singly. They are oval and look squashed, and have a finely dimpled surface.

(Photo: courtesy of Cathy Byrne)

The species has been found in:

Queensland,

New South Wales,

Australian Capital Territory,

Victoria,

Tasmania, and

South Australia.

head, female
(Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria)