Anthelid Moths - Family Anthelidae
The Anthelid Moths can be found only in Australia and New Guinea. They are common in Brisbane.
- Hairy Mary Caterpillar
The Caterpillars are from medium to very large in size. They are very hairy, and those hairs may cause skin irritation if in contact. Their head is large and usually have the wearing sunglass look. The Caterpillars usually feed at night but some are active on day time. When rest, they hiding under barks or leaves
The Anthelidae caterpillars are easy to rear. Just feed them with the plants on which you find them, some may need a humid atmosphere when they become mature and pupate. Next time when you find the caterpillars, keep them and see what moths they will turn into.
The Anthelidae pupate in a woven cocoon, oval or elongated.
The
adults are medium to very large moths. They usually have furry body and
board wings, proboscis absent. Most Anthelidae moths fly at night.
When rest, they held the wings width open with antenna put under wings or in
front. Female adults are with very large body with eggs ready to lay when emerge
from cocoon.
- Common Anthelid Moth
- Anthela acuta, caterpillar 30mm will grow to 50mm, moth wingspan 70mm
- In early summer 2003, we found a large woven cocoon, about 20x40mm, attached among the leaves on a young gum tree. We took it home and put it in a jar. About two weeks later, a moth came out as the above picture. We have more information in this page.
- Palm Anthelid Moth
- Anthela sp, caterpillar 50mm, moth wingspan 70mm
- We found the hairy caterpillar on the palm tree in our front yard in late summer. We kept it in a bottle with some palm leaf. After a few days, it turned into a silk cocoon. The cocoon was dark brown in colour, formed on the bottom of the bottle covered by the palm leaf. About four weeks later, we saw a light brown moth came out. It flied away after we took some photos. We sometimes see this Varied Anthelid Moth coming to our windows at night. Click here for more details.
- Large Anthelid Moth
- Anthela canescens, caterpillar 60mm, moth wingspan 70mm
- We find this large hairy caterpillar on mid summer. We took it home and kept it in a large jar. The caterpillar turned into a cocoon a few days later. The moth came out in about three months. We have more details in this page.
- Hairy Mary Caterpillar
- Anthela varia 90mm
- 35mm Hairy caterpillar feeding on gum tree leaf. One week later, at same area found another similar caterpillar, with 90mm in length. The caterpillar body is dark brown to black in colour, with long white hair. Notice there are two row of white spots on its back. The second picture shows it head, it is feeding on gum tree leaf. Check this page for more information and pictures.
- Eyespot Anthelid Moth
- Anthela ocellata, female, body length 30mm
- Pictures taken on the wall outside our house. The caterpillar is brown and hairy with a brown and black head
- Reference:
- 1. Australian Moths - Common, Ian F.B. Jacaranda Press, 1963, p92
- 2. Anthela ocellata - Australian Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2007
- 3. A Guide to Australian Moths - Paul Zborowski, Ted Edwards, CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2007, p155.
- Yellow-headed Anthelid
- Nataxa flavescens, length 40mm
- The hairy caterpillar is a slender, green and yellow, with two tufts of black hair behind the reddish-brown head. A single tuft of black hair on the tail. On the back there is the shorter black hair on each segment. This caterpillar can move relatively fast.
- Reference:
- 1. Flying Colours, Common Caterpillars, Butterflies and Moths of South-Eastern Australia - Pat & Mike Coupar,1992, p30.
- 2. Nataxa flavescens - - Australian Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2004
- Rose Anthelid Caterpillar
- Chenuala heliaspis, length 20mm, will grow to 50mm, found on Acacia leaf in late summer.
- The caterpillar has yellow and red hair, with tuft of black hair on its thorax. Head is surrounded with pink hair.
- Reference:
- 1. Chenuala heliaspis - Australian Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2004
- 2. Flying Colours, Common Caterpillars, Butterflies and Moths of South-Eastern Australia - Pat & Mike Coupar,1992, p29.
- Urticating Anthelid
- Anthela nicothoe, length 30mm, will grow to 50mm
- Found in Karawatha Forest during early winter.
- Reference:
- 1. Anthela nicothoe - Australian Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2007
- 2. Flying Colours, Common Caterpillars, Butterflies and Moths of South-Eastern Australia - Pat & Mike Coupar,1992, p26.
Unknown Anthelid Caterpillars
- Followings are caterpillars that yet to be identified. We believe they are in the Anthelidae family. Please advise if you known what are they.
- Anthelid Caterpillar on Gum tree trunk
- Above picture taken in Karawatha Forest during early winter.
- Caterpillar with black hair on Acacia
- ? sp., length 30mm found on Acacia leaf in late summer.
- Anthelid Caterpillar
- Pictures taken during early winter in Karawatha Forest.
- Anthelid Caterpillar
- ? sp., length 30mm, Nov 2007, on the wall outside our office in Sinnamon Park
- Reference:
- 1. ANTHELIDAE of Australia - Australian Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2007
- 2. Flying Colours, Common Caterpillars, Butterflies and Moths of South-Eastern Australia - Pat & Mike Coupar,1992, p25.
- 3. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p438.
- 4. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p 900.
- 5. A Guide to Australian Moths - Paul Zborowski, Ted Edwards, CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2007, p154.
- 6. Moths of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p391.
