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Family
Lymantriidae
- This page contains pictures and information about Tussock Caterpillars and
Moths that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
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   - Wingless
female
Winged male
pupa in cocoon
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- Tussock Moths in this family are are from small to medium in size with
furry hairy body. They are short lived, mouth parts are poorly developed and do not
feed at all. They held
their board wings root-like over their abdomen when rest. Some species adults
rest with wings flattened forming a triangle and the fore legs extended forward.
The male moth antenna broadly pectinate and curved. Females have very large
abdomen when emerge from pupa. The abdomen is full of eggs and ready to lay.
In some species the females are wingless. They are usually active at
night.
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Coloured Gland on 6 and 7th segment
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- The Tussock Caterpillars in family LYMANTRIIDAE are usually hairy, often with four distinct
tussocks of hairs on their back make them look like a toothbrush. Those hairs can cause
irritation if contact. Tussock Caterpillars are usually colourful. They may found feeding on leaves during the day. The caterpillars pupate in a woven cocoon under bark or foliage.
The pupa usually covered with larval hairs for
protection.
These hairs can cause problems if touched or released to blow
about.
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- On the back of
the 6 and 7th segments there is the coloured gland. The glands exude liquid
that is believed will deter ant from attacking the caterpillar.
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- Eggs, 1.5mm
diameter Caterpillars just hatched, length 4mm
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- Female lay their eggs mixed with their scale. Some female-wingless species
lay eggs on their cocoon.
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- We have detail records about the life cycle of this Tussock Moth - Painted Pine Moth.
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- Reference:
- 1. LYMANTRIIDAE
of Australia - Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2008.
- 2. Moths
of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press,
1990, p425.
- 3. Moths
of Australia - Bernard D'Abrera, Lansdowne Press, Melbourne, 1974,
p71.
- 4. A
Guide to Australian Moths - Paul Zborowski, Ted Edwards, CSIRO
PUBLISHING, 2007, p178.
- 5. Northern
Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.
- 6. Moths
of Victoria: part two, Tiger moths and allies Noctuoidea (A) -
Peter Marriott, Entomological Society of Victoria, 2009.
[ Up ] [ Tussock Moths Biology ] [ White Tussock Moth I ] [ Painted Pine Moth ] [ Brown Tussock Moth ] [ White Tussock Moth ] [ Yellow Tussock Moth ]
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