Doratifera pinguis

Doratifera pinguis (Walker)
(one synonym: Pelora olorina)
Painted Cup Moth
LIMACODIDAE

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

(updated 20 July 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

This Caterpillar is green. The Caterpillar moves like a slug because its legs are reduced, and it has two dorsal shields and a skirt of fleshy spikes, which are typical of Doratifera larvae. The shields are dark brown, and the front one is larger than that at the rear. They are narrower and flatter than in other Doratifera species. Also the absence of an ornate band joining the shields and the presence of a longitudinal yellow line above the lateral spikes distinguishes this species.

Each dorsal shield bears four tubercles containing orange evertable stinging hairs.

The Caterpillars feed on:

Gum Trees (Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE),

and grow to length of about 3 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

The adult male and female moths are similar in appearance but not in size. They have broad wings and stout bodies like many Cup Moths. They are light brown with white scales on the thorax and on the marginal area of each fore wing. A double row of subterminal brown spots merge near the apex of each fore wing, separating the pale termen from the rest of the wing. The males have a wingspan of about 3 cms. The females have a wingspan of about 4 cms.

Eggs laid in December in Melbourne hatched after 11 days.

The species occurs over the whole eastern seaboard of Australia, from Queensland to Tasmania.