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Lymantriidae.
Acyphas leucomelas (Walker)
Tussock moth.
(Photo 005. L. Jenkins 2002.)
The caterpillars were found at Coffin Bay and grew, pupated and emerged
in the classroom.
The
caterpillars are found on the Acacia leiophylla bushes.
The eggs were laid in a cluster and covered with hair from the mother.
(Photo 917. eggs. L. Jenkins 2002)
The caterpillars are a very colourful red and white, have white tufts of
hair on their body and whiskers pointing forward from their front section.
(Photo 877. caterpillar. L. Jenkins. 2002)
The caterpillars made a flimsy, loosely woven, cocoon between the
leaves of the food plant.
Pupation lasted about one month.
(Photo 892. female. L. Jenkins. 2002.)
The female has white wings, a black and white striped body and bright
orange anal tuft.
It has a wingspan of 2.5 cms.
(Photo 901. male. L. Jenkins 2002)
The male leucomelas is also white with a plain, thinner body.
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Teia anartoides (Walker)
Painted apple moth.
The eggs
of the Painted apple Moth.
(Photo.199.
L. Jenkins.2003)
(Photo 853. and L. Jenkins. 2002)
The larvae of the Yellow Painted Apple Moth is a very colourful yellow
with a black stripe and white tufts on its back.
From the front abdominal segments protrude four magnificent white
plumes, and two darker ones at the back.
Our larvae had three red eversible sacs on segment six and seven,
and a smaller on on the end of its tail.
The larvae are ferocious eaters and grow quickly to about 5. cms and
then weave a loose cocoon.
(Photo 747. cocoon. L. Jenkins. 2002)
The female moth emerged in eleven days and clung to her cocoon, laying many unfertilised eggs.
 
(Photo 746.female. L. Jenkins 2002)(Photo.
100. male. L. Jenkins.2003)
She lived for about two weeks.
(Photo of black caterpillar having shed skin and become pupa. .L. Jenkins. 2002)
The black version of this moth also eats garden plants.
I have bred both colours in captivity.
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Euproctis marginalis (Walker)
(Photo 824. L. Jenkins. 2003 )
These moths were caught in Victoria, in early January.
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(Photo 857. L. Jenkins 2003.)
This moth was caught at Port Lincoln in January. 2003.
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Moths of the West coast.