Phelotis cognata

Phelotis cognata (Walker, 1860)
(one synonym : Acidalia tephrinaria Walker, [1863])
Long-fringed Bark Moth
BOARMIINI, ENNOMINAE, GEOMETRIDAE, GEOMETROIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

sixth

succesive instars
(Photos: courtesy of Catherine Young-Byrne and Elaine McDonald)

The first instar is green and slightly hairy.
The second is green, with thin wiggly dark lines. The head is yellow and the legs are be tinged with pink.
The third instar is green with pairs of black-ringed white spots, a pair of short horns on the back of the second segment, and has a small yellow head with black markings and yellow true legs.
The fourth instar is similar but is streaky grey.
The fifth instar is speckled dark grey, with a bigger head.

head of second instar, close up
(Photo: courtesy of David Akers, Won Wron, Victoria)

The caterpillar has been found on:

She Oaks ( Allocasuarina species, CASUARINACEAE ), and

Australian Native Cherry ( Exocarpus cupressiformis, SANTALACEAE ).

cocoon
(Photo: courtesy of Elaine McDonald) Nicholls Rivulet, Tasmania)

The caterpillar grows to a length of about 4.5 cms. It pupates in a soil cell in a stiff dark brown cocoon, which has a length of about 1.2 cms.

pupa
(Photo: courtesy of David Akers, Won Wron, Victoria)

The pupa inside the cocoon is initially green , turning brown as it matures. The adult moth emerges after one to three weeks in summer.

female, grey form
(Photo: courtesy of Marilyn Hewish, Moths of Victoria: Part 7)

The female is grey or brown with an interesting wavy pattern, and has a wingspan of typically 3 cms.

male, brown form
(Photo: courtesy of Catherine J. Young)

The male is smaller, also grey or brown, with a wingspan typically up to about 2.5 cms. Both sexes have bipectinate antennae. Beneath is uniformly grey with a small discal dot often on the female.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Catherine J. Young)

The eggs are oval and orange with a microscopic set of ridges along and around each egg.

eggs, magnified
(Photo: courtesy of Catherine J. Young)

The species has been found over much of eastern Australia, including:

Queensland,

New South Wales,

Australian Capital Territory,

Victoria,

Tasmania, and

South Australia.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of John Bromilow, Mount Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory)