Eutane terminalis

Eutane terminalis Walker, 1854
(one synonym : Comarchis gradata)
Banded Lichen Moth
LITHOSIINAE , ARCTIIDAE , NOCTUOIDEA

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

(updated 24 April 2008)

Eutane terminalis eggs
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

This Caterpillar hatches from a patch of about 80 grey eggs laid on a sheltered wall or rock.

(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The Caterpillar is dark grey and yellow, with a tuft of hair protruding sideways from each segment. The Caterpillars live communally, sheltering in a crevice by day, and feeding by night. They appear to feed on:

Lichen.

(Specimen: courtesy of Vanessa Mack,
Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

They grow rather slowly: after nearly 12 months reaching a length of about 1.5 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

They pupate in a mass of adjacent cocoons in a crevice.

(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The individual pupae are very decorative, with orange and black markings.

(Specimen: courtesy of Vanessa Mack,
Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The moth emerges after about a fortnight in summer or several months across winter. It is small, and black and yellow, with a wingspan of about 1.5 cms.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The species occurs in:

New South Wales, and

Queensland.

(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)