Tooth White Banded Noctuid - Donuca orbigera
Family Noctuidae
This page contains pictures and information about Tooth White Banded Noctuid Moths that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Wingspan 50mm
- The moths have the eye-spots and teeth pattern on the upper side of their wings, resemble a big mouth predator. Their abdomen is bright orange colour and the bottom side of their wings are brownish-yellow. In the air, they are the bright orange-yellow flying insects. If you spot them on their flight and look for a bright-orange insect after they land, you will never find them.
- This species of White Banded Noctuid Moth is common in the Alexandra Hill Bushland and Karawatha Forest in summer. In day time they hide among grasses or on tree trunk near the ground. When disturbed, they quickly fly away to another spot few meters away.
- One day in Alexandra Hill when we were chasing a White Banded Noctuid Moths for taking photos, we saw a Magpie (a common large Australian bird) its also spotted the moth and was chasing it in front us. The Magpie stopped and searched at where the moth just landed. We thought that it would be the end of the moth. But, to our surprise, the Magpie suddenly retreated, flied up to a tree and called loudly. We believed the bird was shocked by the face pattern.
- There is no information about the caterpillar of this moth.
- Feb 2008, near the lagoon in Karawatha Forest. Dec 2008, same area. Mar 2009, Anstead Forest
- Reference:
- 1. A Guide to Australian Moths - by Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards, Published by. CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2007, p192.
- 2. Moths of Australia - Ian F.B.Common, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p454, plate 21.14.
- 3. Donuca orbigera (Guenee, 1852) - Australian Caterpillars, by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2007.
- 4. Northern Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.
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