Clostera rubida

Clostera rubida (H. Druce, 1901)
(previously known as Ichthyura rubida)
PYGAERINAE, NOTODONTIDAE, NOCTUOIDEA

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

(Photo: by Robin Schaer, courtesy of Valry Ryland, Magnetic Island, Queensland)

These caterpillars are dark brown with white spots, and have two pairs of short white tentacles on the back of the thorax, and a pair of short dark red tentacles on the backs of the first and the antipenultimate abdominal segments. The head is dark brown with a grey 'A' shaped face.

(Photo: courtesy of Valry Ryland, Magnetic Island, Queensland)

The caterpillars have been found feeding on

Cape Plum ( Flacourtia species, SALICACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Valry Ryland, Magnetic Island, Queensland)

The caterpillars pupate in a silk cocoon between leaves or twigs on the foodplant.

(Photo: courtesy of Valry Ryland, Magnetic Island, Queensland)

The adult moths of this species are pale brown with wavy pale lines across the forewings, and a dark hairy collar around the head.

(Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville, Queensland)

The hindwings of the male are paler than the forewings, darkening along the hind margins. The females have yellowish hindwings, darkening towards the margins. The forelegs are covered in grey hair, and the other legs have pale brown hair. The wingspan is about 2.5 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Valry Ryland, Magnetic Island, Queensland)

This species occurs in :

New Guniea,

as well as in Australia in

Queensland.

eggs
(Photo: by by Robin Schaer, courtesy of Valry Ryland, Magnetic Island, Queensland)

The eggs are laid in an irregular array on the underside of a leaf of a foodplant. The eggs are spherical and initially white, turning black as hatching approaches.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Valry Ryland, Magnetic Island, Queensland)