Gastrophora henricaria
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Gastrophora henricaria , male |
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| Gastrophora henricaria | ||||||||||||
| Guénée , 1858 |
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Gastrophora henricaria is a butterfly ( moth )found in Australiafromthe spanner family (Geometridae).
features
butterfly
The wingspan of the moths is 54 to 64 millimeters, with the males being slightly smaller than the females. There is a slight sexual dimorphism between the sexes . The basic color of the upper side of the forewing varies from ocher brown to mouse gray. The apex is very pointed. In the males, a narrow, straight, black-brown horizontal stripe extends through the discal region , which in the females is missing or only very weakly indicated. The inner transverse line, like the outer one, is broken up into small black dots or is completely absent. The fringes are black. The black basal region stands out from the strong orange upper side of the hind wing . A central transverse band and an outer transverse line formed from dots are also colored black. Only in the females is the submarginal region light gray-white. On the partially orange underside of the forewings, a very large black-blue eye spot stands out in both sexes. In contrast, the underside of the hind wing is colored light gray-brown without drawing. The antennae of the males are ciliate on both sides, those of the females are thread-shaped.
Caterpillar
Adult caterpillars are gray-brown in color and show bud-like tubercles on the third body segment . The topline is broken up into arrow-shaped dark spots. In a stretched position, the caterpillars look like a broken branch and are thus excellently protected from predators.
Similar species
Due to the very distinctive drawing, the moths of Gastrophora henricaria are unmistakable.
distribution and habitat
The distribution of the species extends along the southeast coast of Australia. Gastrophora henricaria prefers to colonize bushy forest edges.
Way of life
The moths are nocturnal. They can be found all year round, mainly in November. You visit artificial light sources . The caterpillars feed on the leaves of eucalyptus species and on Lophostemon confertus, which belongs to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) .
Individual evidence
- ↑ flight times
- ^ Ian Francis Bell Common: Moths of Australia , Melbourne University Press, 1990, ISBN 0-522-84326-3
literature
- Ian Francis Bell Common: Moths of Australia , Melbourne University Press, 1990, ISBN 0-522-84326-3
Web links
- Lepiforum e. V. - Taxonomy and photos
- bie.ala.au - localities
- brisbaneinsects - Brisbane Insects
- butterflyhouse - caterpillar and adults