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SINISTER MOTH FACTS |
Identification
The Sinister Moth is a fairly drab moth with wings patterned with various shades of brown with some undulating black lines. Colour is variable and some moths are quite dark. The trailing edge of the wings has a lobed serrated edge. The body is fairly fat and hairy and about 15 mm long. Males have feathery antennae. The caterpillars are dark when small becoming reddish brown as they develop. Caterpillars are loopers arching their bodies into a loop as they move. The cocoon is dark brown. This species can be a pest of horticultural plants
Other Names
Brown Looper
Size
wingspan about 5cm
Habitat
parks and gardens
Food
caterpillars feed on a variety of plants including garden and horticultural plants
Breeding
the female lays small pale eggs on leaf of food plant. The caterpillar feeds on leaves and goes through several moults before pupating under the soil.
Range
Pholodes sinistraria is found in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Lepidoptera | | Family: | Geometridae | | Genus: | Pholodes | | Species: | sinistraria | | Common Name: | Sinister Moth |
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