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Family Tortricidae
- This page contains pictures and information about Hopper-mimicking Leaf Roller Moths that
we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
-
 - Body length 10mm
- Photos taken in Anstead Forest on Apr 2009. Does this moth mimic planthopper? The
faked head is on the other side of the real head. There are even the faked
legs near the base. What is the benefit of mimicking a planthopper? Well,
planthopper is fast moving. Most predators will not bother to approach them.
There are quite a number of different insects mimic
planthopper.
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 -
- This is also an example of Self
Mimicry. Self mimicry is a term for animals that have one body part that mimics another to increase survival during an attack or helps predators appear innocuous to allow the prey extra seconds to escape.
This moth's tail mimic the planthopper head. Predator usually attach the
critical body part first, may be head or eyes. The moth in the above photo has
the broken wings. It may have save its life some times ago.
-
 - Nov 2007, Karawatha Forest, Dentata Trail
-
- Reference:
- 1. Leaf
Roller Moth - lifeunseen.com, by Nick Monaghan, 2006.
- 2. Dudua
siderea
(Turner, 1916) - - by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley,
2008.
- 3. Dudua
siderea
(Turner) - tortricid.net, by Todd Gilligan, 2008.
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