Epicoma pontificalis Rosenstock, 1885 Mottled Epicoma THAUMETOPOEINAE,   NOTODONTIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA

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

(Photo: courtesy of Peter Woodall, Brisbane, Queensland)

The adult moths have forewings that are dark brown speckled with gold flecks, with a double row of orange spots along the termen. The central area of each forewing has a dark ring with a yellow dot in the middle. The hindwings are dark brown with a gold border. The thorax is covered in orange hair. Each abdominal segment has a dorsal yellow spot, and the tip of the abdomen has a large brush of orange hair. Both sexes have feathery antennae, but the males' pectinations are bigger. The abdomen of the male is narrower than that of the female. The wingspan is about 4 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Moths of Victoria: part 2)

The species has found in south-eastern Australia, including:

South Australia.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Moths of Victoria: part 2)

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Further reading :

Peter Marriott,
Moths of Victoria: part 2,
Tiger Moths and their Allies - Noctuoidea (A),
Entomological Society of Victoria, 2009, pp. 10-11.

Rudolph Rosenstock,
Notes on Australian Lepidoptera, with descriptions of new species,
Annals and Magazine of Natural History,
Volume 5, Part 16 (1885), p. 383.

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(updated 16 March 2013, 17 May 2018, 25 January 2021)