name of _Hepialus australasiae_, which is now known as _Perissectis
australasiae_. With outspread wings it measures up to 3½ inches across;
the body and fore wings are of a general dark yellowish colour, marbled
and mottled with dark brown, and the hind wings have a reddish tint.
The Genus _Porina_ contains 8 described species from this country;
others are recorded from New Zealand and Africa; they are smaller moths
of a general brown, yellow, or grey tint.
The Genus _Hepialus_ comprises a number of very beautiful moths with
all kinds of delicate green, yellow, pink, and silvery shades of
colour. The moth lays her eggs upon a tree stem; the newly hatched
larva eating off the surface of the bark forms a matted web under which
it bores into the centre of the branch, and then makes a vertical
shaft downward, varying in length from a few inches to several feet,
in which it feeds and pupates. The best method to obtain specimens of
these moths is to collect the infested branches or stems, cutting them
off a foot or more on either side of the silken webs (which often form
a regular ring round the stem), and placing them in several inches of
damp sand in a box, with a sheet of glass over the top. The wood thus
dries slowly and does not damage the delicate pupae or larvae from
which, if collected at the proper time, the perfect moths of several
species will readily breed out. The males and females of the same
species differ from each other in size, colour and markings.
[Illustration: Plate XXIII.--LEPIDOPTERA.
Family HEPIALIDAE.
_Leto staceyi_ (Scott).
(Original photo. Burton.)]
[Illustration: _Plate XXIII.--LEPIDOPTERA._]
Lewin’s wood-moth, _Hepialus lewini_, is one in which the sexes are
very different. The larger female measures 2½ inches across the wings;
the fore pair, head, and thorax are dull claret red, mottled on the
centre and tips of the wings with green; the hind pair dull yellow,
with a pinkish tint. In the male, the head, thorax, and fore wings are
pale green, the latter banded with opaline white; the hind pair of
a paler green with white tints. This is one of our common species, and
feeds in the stems of the Casuarina.
The larva of _H. exima_ feeds on the stems of the “Lilly-pilly” and
Water-gums, forming quite a felted bag round the branch, and is said to
remain in the larval state for several years; like the great wood-moth,
before it pupates it eats the web off in front of its chamber and
replaces it with a wad to protect the opening; this it can easily
push out with its horny pupal head when ready to emerge. This is a
much larger green form, with the edges of the fore wings marked with
brownish yellow and two eye spots of the same colour in the centre;
the small male has the green fore wings marked with opaline white. _H.
ramseyi_ is easily recognised by its greater size and the green fore
wings richly mottled with large silvery white spots forming irregular
transverse bands.
The Bent-wing, _Leto staceyi_, is one of our most remarkable moths
both for size and colour: it was originally described by Scott under
the generic name _Zelotypia_, but Meyrick placed it in the Genus
_Leto_, in which another species has been described from S. Africa.
Both of these species are peculiar in having the hind wings tufted
with stout shaggy hairs. This moth, chiefly obtained in the forest
country about Newcastle, has been largely bred from the infested timber
by miners in the district, who had a ready sale for them, and who at
this work naturally learnt a good deal about their habits. When the
young larva enters the tree trunk it covers the opening so carefully
with web and particles of bark, that it requires an observant eye
to detect the injury. According to some of the collectors the larva
lives and grows in its shaft, about a foot in depth, for a period of
six years (but this needs verifying); it generally pupates early in
December after blocking the opening with a felted wad; but soon after
its transformation it pushes this wad out. The chrysalid fits close
to its vertical shaft, and aided by rows of fine spines round the
apex of each abdominal segment can move up and down; when reaching
maturity it has a favourite habit of resting in the shaft with the top
of its head level with the transverse burrow, and dropping downward if
disturbed. Thornton, who bred or captured nearly 100 in the Newcastle
district, generally obtained them in the month of March, and found
that those under observation invariably came out about 3 o’clock in
the afternoon. The larger female measures up to 8 inches across the
wings, of which the front pair are long, slender, and arcuate on the
hind margins; these are of a general greyish fawn brown, wonderfully
marbled with black and brown, and with a large eye-spot in the centre
toward the tip: the hind wings and body are reddish yellow. Meyrick
suggests, in his paper previously quoted, that the curious eye-spots on
the wings, together with the general outline of the moth resting upon
the tree trunk, might be a case of protective mimicry, resembling a
snake’s head; this appears to me however to be very far fetched. Skuse
reproduced a drawing of the moth and a monitor lizard’s head in the
“Records of the Australian Museum,” to show this fancied resemblance,
but if the correct colouration had been added the resemblance would
have been very much less marked.
The Genus _Pielus_ contains some large brownish moths with very
hairy legs, two of which have been described from Australia: _Pielus
hyalinatus_, slightly under 4 inches across the wings, is of a general
chocolate brown tint with an irregular silvery white stripe and dark
lines running through the centre of the fore wings; the hind pair are
brown. The larvae feed in the roots of several species of wattles, and
are frequently attacked by _Cordiceps_, the curious fungus that turns
them into what are known as “vegetable caterpillars.” This species
has a range from the southern parts of W. Australia through Victoria
to North Queensland. Messrs. Olliff and Prince figured and described
(Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1887) a handsome variety of this moth under
the name of _Pielus imperialis_. The marbled wood-moth, _Trictena
labyrinthica_, is a large dark brown moth, measuring up to 6 inches
across the wings, which are covered with a scroll-work pattern of
lighter colour. The larvae of these also feed upon the roots of trees.
In the COSSIDAE we have a typical goat-moth, _Culama caliginosa_,
resembling the English species in form and habits. The larva is a
short, dull, red, naked grub that feeds in the stem of the apple-gum,
tunnelling round under the bark until nearly full grown, when it bores
into the wood and pupates in a cocoon at the end. The moth is of a
uniform delicate slate-grey, finely marbled with black lines all over
the broad rounded wings, which are folded downward when at rest.
The ZEUZERIDAE comprise some of our giant wood-boring moths; some are
as large as small birds, with great rounded bodies, and grey wings
thickly mottled with black, brown and fawn: _Zeuzera eucalypti_ has
received an unfortunate specific name, for it feeds in the larval state
in the stems and branches of several different species of wattles, and
kills a great number of these trees by perforating them with great
circular burrows; when ready to pupate, it forms a silken bag close to
the outer skin of the bark, which has been gnawed away so that it can
easily push its way out when ready to emerge. The moths have the usual
brown tint mottled with irregular blotches of grey. The rust-coloured
wood moth is a much larger species, and is commonly known under the
name of _Z. liturata_, but is probably identical with _Z. cinerens_. It
measures up to 4¼ inches across the wings, and is of a delicate mottled
grey and brown tint, with the hind wings and central portion of the
dorsal surface of the abdomen bright chocolate brown. The larvae of
this and the following species live in the centre of the stems of large
forest gums, and are said to take a number of years to come to maturity.
Macleay’s wood moth, _Zeuzera macleayi_, said to be identical with
Herrick-Schafer’s _Eudoxula boisduvalli_, has a large cylindrical body,
and is the giant of the family, measuring up to 10 inches across the
wings. They are brown thickly mottled with grey scales; when taken they
are generally found clinging to the tree trunks, upon which each female
deposits many thousands of small shot-like eggs.
Olliff has given a detailed description of _Leto staceyi_, and an
account of a variety (Pro. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1887). In a general
account of these wood-moths (Pro. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1894) I recorded a
number of Thornton’s observations.
Family 8. Bag Moths.
PSYCHIDAE.
The members of this group are more remarkable in the caterpillar than
in the moth stage, for as soon as they emerge the larvae construct
protective caps of silken threads and bits of their food-plant, which
as they increase in size become regular silken sacks open at the neck,
through which the head and fore-legs protrude as they crawl about,
but retract at the least alarm. They take their popular name of “Bag”
or “Case Moths” from this peculiar habit, and the different species
construct different forms of bags and ornament them with sticks or
leaves. In Germany they are called “Sacktragers”; in America are known
as “Basket Worms”; and the family is fairly represented all over the
world.
This country is rich in large species, some of which were noticed
as curiosities at a very early date, and Westwood described and
figured most of our bag moths (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1854) under the
Genus _Oiketicus_: McCoy in his “Podromus of Natural History of
Victoria” Decade iv. gave additional notes on the habits of two of
our common species; and an interesting paper on how they construct
their portable homes will be found in the “Victorian Naturalist” by
Hill (1898). The caterpillars themselves are short, naked, dull green
creatures with stout horny heads, and are apparently so well protected
from their many enemies that one would hardly expect to find them
suffer from the attacks of parasites. But they must have some weak
point in their armour for a very large percentage, even when collected
and kept in breeding cages, produce only wasp and fly parasites. When
full grown the caterpillar closes up the neck of its bag and fastens
it by a stout silken band to a twig before changing into the chrysalid
state; but while the male turns round and pupates head downward, the
female remains head up as before, and when she casts her pupal skin
is an aborted wingless creature, with small head and legs; the body
simply develops into a great swollen sack of eggs, which hatch out in
her body, or in the shelter of the cocoon; and the larvae make their
way out at the open tip of the bag, each attached to a silken thread, a
squirming mass of hundreds of little black creatures, leaving her only
a shrivelled skin in the cocoon. The male moth, which is rare, is a
very active creature, which dashes about as soon as he emerges from the
pupal case, and damages his wings (even when bred in captivity) before
he can be caught. He has curious toothed antennae; the head and body
are thickly clothed with fine hairs; the body has telescopic segments,
capable of being protracted to double their ordinary length when
impregnating the female enclosed in her cocoon. The wings are narrow,
very lightly covered with scales, and without any very distinctive
pattern.
[Illustration: Plate XXIV.--LEPIDOPTERA.
Family LIPARIDAE.
1. _Teara contraria_ (Walker). ♀.
2. _Teara contraria_ (Walker). Caterpillar.
3. _Teara contraria_ (Walker). ♂.
4. _Teara contraria_ (Walker). Bag shelter among
the foliage of _Eucalyptus albens_.]
[Illustration: _Plate XXIV.--LEPIDOPTERA._]
About 13 species of these moths are described from Australia, of which
several are very common at times in the bush. Saunders’ Case Moth,
_Metura elongata_, is our largest species; the larva constructs an
elongate silken sack often up to 4 or 5 inches in length, broadest in
the centre and tapering to both extremities; the outside is covered
with short lengths of sticks nibbled from the food plant, or picked up
during its wanderings. On an average these sticks are about as long as
wooden matches, and are securely attached at irregular distances, the
lower ones often extending beyond the silken tip. The caterpillar, of
which only the head, thorax, and fore-legs can be seen, is a stout,
naked, dull brown grub barred with black and reddish orange,
measuring about 2 inches in length. The female moth differs so little
from the caterpillar that it is hardly worth noticing, but the active
winged male, with a wing expanse of about 2 inches, has the head and
thorax thickly clothed with bright reddish orange down, and the dusky
wings are lightly clothed with fine scales. Though the moth is a
somewhat rare insect, the bag cocoon can be often found on a twig or
attached to a fence, for in spite of the large house they carry they
are great travellers. The Faggot Case-moth, _Entometa ignoblis_, forms
a very different kind of portable home; the silken sack is covered
with a coat of stout sticks which are generally cut from the gum trees
and laid parallel to each other, and closely fastened to the silken
surface, so that it reminds one of a bundle of faggots. They vary much
in size and length; the larger measures up to 3 inches; one stick will
be often found projecting an inch or more beyond the others; this is
said to be a resting place for the male moth when seeking the enclosed
female. She is of the usual obese form; of a general brown tint, the
head and thorax creamy white spotted with black. The male moth with
a wing expanse of 1¼ inches is of a uniform brown colour. The Leaf
Case-moth, _Thyridopteryx hubneri_, forms a shorter oval silken sack
averaging about 2½ inches in length and broad in proportion, covered
with different kinds of leaves, for they feed on many shrubs and trees;
but the commonest are clothed with bits of gum leaves attached only on
the upper edge, and might be likened to a rag mat. When they infest
pine trees in the garden, they are uniformly clothed with short lengths
of pine needles and have a much neater appearance. The caterpillar is
a stout black grub with the head and thorax dull white, mottled with
brown. The male moth is a pretty little creature, with reddish brown
antennae, the body thickly clothed with black down; the wings have very
few scales, and are almost transparent, with a slight blotch in the
centre of the hind pair.
The Ribbed Case-moth, _Thyridopteryx herrichii_, differs from the
others in constructing a smooth white silken bag, oval in form, angled
on the sides, and with a slender tail at the base; and the long
attenuated neck forms a regular stalk when attached to the twig; it
measures about 2 inches, and is never covered with sticks or leaves.
The caterpillar is blackish brown with the head and first thoracic
segment lighter coloured. The moth is about 1 inch across the wings,
thickly clothed with black hairs, and a reddish orange spot behind the
thorax; the wings are semitransparent, with very few scales.
Family 9. Cup or Slug Moths.
LIMACODIDAE.
[Illustration: =Fig. 115.=--_Doratifera vulnerans_
(Lewin).
The “Cup or Slug Moth,” with larva and cup-shaped cocoon.
(“Agricultural Gazette,” N.S.W.)]
These are moderate sized moths with plump bodies thickly clothed with
shaggy hairs, retracted heads, and toothed antennae. The caterpillars
are curious short stout slug-like creatures feeding on the surface
of the foliage; their feet are almost obsolete, while the under
surface is quite flat, soft and fleshy; the whole body rests on the
leaf when crawling along like that of a snail. The upper surface is
saddle-shaped, with the two extremities raised and ornamented with
fleshy spiny tubercles, with little bunches of sharp retractile spines
like rosettes, which can be withdrawn into the tubercle or erected at
will; the spines are sharp and appear to be hollow, and give a smart
sting if they touch the body; in some of the American species, the
stinging sensation is so severe as to cause serious swellings. When
full grown they spin curious egg-shaped, brown, parchment-like cocoons
attached at the base to the twig, with the apex rounded and forming
a circular cap or lid, which, closely cemented on, is loosened and
pushed off by the enclosed moth when she emerges. They do not pupate
as soon as the cocoon is finished, but remain for a long time in a
semi-caterpillar state before the chrysalis is formed.
* * * * *
The Painted Cup Moth, _Limacodes longerans_, is one of our commonest
species. The female is about 1¾ inches across the wings; has a very
large abdomen; is of a general dull brownish tint; the head and thorax
are slightly coloured with red, and the under surface dark brown, the
wings chocolate brown, with the outer margins light brown. The much
smaller male has semitransparent wings, with the head and thorax marked
with bright red. The larvae feed on eucalypts and are of a delicate
green colour and of the typical form; about 1 inch in length; with
four large tubercles at each end carrying a rosette of retractile red
spines; the centre is marked with red and blue, and the outer margins
are fringed with short tubercles. They form regular oval cocoons
generally attached on their sides to the twig or bark. The Mottled Cup
Moth, _Doratifera vulnerans_, is another common species, the larvae of
which sometimes attack the foliage of apricot trees. It is a larger
slug caterpillar than the last, with a patch of bright yellow in the
middle of the back. The cocoons are pear-shaped with the apex somewhat
contracted, showing the lid more distinctly. They sometimes swarm over
the bush about Sydney N.S. Wales. The moths are of a general reddish
brown tint with the fore wings marbled in the centre with a redder
shade; the hind wings are lighter brown; they are somewhat smaller than
the last species.
* * * * *
_Doratifera quadriguttata_ is of a dull reddish tint; the fore wings
are crossed with a row of 3 darker raised spots, the hind wings being
much lighter: the female measures about 1¼ inches, the male somewhat
smaller. The larvae, when young, cluster together up to a dozen in
number, and feed on the under-side of the leaf, but when full grown
they scatter about, destroying much of the foliage of the gum trees.
Numbers were collected near Gosford N.S.W. about the end of February.
They are short and broad, black, with a pair of dull yellow fleshy
horns in front, and 4 tubercles surmounted with bunches of yellow
spines tipped with black at each extremity; the centre of the flattened
back has rows of short yellow spines with a fringe of similar ones
round the outer margins. When full grown they form the usual egg-shaped
brown cocoon.
* * * * *
_D. acasta_ is a very similar moth, with a row of 6 or more similar
spots crossing the fore wings. The larvae feed in the same manner, and
are very plentiful toward the end of summer in the Bathurst district,
N.S.W. Rainbow has figured the larvae of this species in the “Records
of the Australian Museum” 1904.
The curious warty, pale green, oval, slug-like caterpillar with a
yellow stripe down the centre of the back that is figured by Scott as
_Apoda xylomeli_ feeds upon the under surface of the leaves of the
waratah; and when at rest along the midrib of the leaf, with the yellow
dorsal stripe in line, in spite of its size it is very hard to detect,
and is a wonderful instance of protective colouration.
Family 10. Tiger Moths.
ARCTIIDAE.
This family, including the LITHOSIIDAE, known to collectors as
“Footmen,” is now one of the largest divisions of the moths that were
once all grouped among the true silkworms. The larvae of most of the
species are short hairy grubs popularly known as “woolly bears,”
feeding on all kinds of low plants, and common in our gardens. In this
country they comprise a number of delicate and often very handsome
moths of medium size, with moderately long pectinate antennae, the body
often large, and the wings brightly coloured. The “Footmen” differ from
the “Tiger” moths in having the fore wings longer, more slender, and
folded over the shorter, more elongate body; they take their popular
name from the livery-like pattern of their markings, as the latter take
theirs from the tiger-like stripes and spots; while others again are
known as “Ermine” moths from their soft silken wings.
The Genus _Tigriodes_ contains a number of small moths hiding under
or among foliage and therefore not often noticed. _Tigriodes alterna_
is of a uniform yellowish brown tint, with darker brown markings upon
the thorax and wings, forming zig-zag lines across the fore pair, and
clouding the hind ones. It measures about 1 inch across the wings and
ranges from Victoria into New South Wales. _T. furcifera_ is slightly
smaller, of a bright yellow on the fore wings, with three slender
parallel stripes separating into finer lines at the extremities; the
hind pair paler with traces of black lines toward the edges; there is
a wedge-shaped patch of the same colour on the thorax. Another species
common about Sydney N.S.W. is _T. heminephes_, pale orange yellow with
the apical edges of the wings and thorax blotched with blackish brown.
Among the “Footmen” we have in the Genus _Spilosoma_ a number of fine
white to greyish brown moths, mottled with blackish spots and dashes.
The Light Ermine, _Spilosoma obliqua_, is common in Victoria and N.S.
Wales; it has a wing measurement of 2 inches; is of a uniform dull
white, lightly mottled over the wings with dark brown spots, some of
them forming a slender irregular transverse band across; the abdomen
is red with a dorsal stripe of black dots. _Spilosoma fulvohirta_ is
about the same size, but much more darkly and thickly marked with
brown, also forming dark stripes on the thorax. _Spilosoma fuscinula_
is a much smaller moth, slightly over 1 inch across the wings; it has a
general rich pink tint, very variably spotted and blotched with black;
the latter is sometimes quite the predominating colour, in others only
marking the tips; the hind wings are spotted in the centre and on the
hind margins only. The larvae are short, flattish, hairy grubs of a
reddish colour, and feed upon the foliage of young gum trees.
[Illustration: =Figs. 116= and =117=.--_Spilosoma
obliqua_ (Walker).
116. The Light Ermine Moth.
117. Larva, known as a “Woolly bear.”
(“Agricultural Gazette,” N.S.W.)]