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- This page contains pictures and information about Wasp Moths of subfamily Ctenuchinae
that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
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- This Wasp Moth
is trying very hard to convince us that it is a wasp.
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- The caterpillars in Ctenuchinae are usually covered with uniform dark
hairs. Most of them are active during the day. They pupate in cocoon made of
silk and their hairs.
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- Adults in Ctenuchinae are small to medium in size. Their abdomen are
usually banded with black and orange colours. This is the warning colours of
they are poisonous or distasteful if eaten. They are active during the day.
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We noticed that those species in this sub-family spend quite a long time in mating.
Most of their
pictures, from reference books or other web sites, show they are mating. This is not the case for other moth species.
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- In Brisbane we found four species in genus Amata. All of them have
the very similar wing patterns. We believed they formed the Mullerian
mimicry complex.
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- Black-headed Wasp Moth
 - Eressa angustipenna, wingspan 30mm
- This moth is common in Brisbane bushes. We can easily find them resting or
flying openly in the Eucalyptus forest. Its
wings are black with translucent yellow-orange spots. It has black and orange-yellow bands on its
body. There is the orange band between its black head and black hairy
thorax. Its forewings are long and a bit narrow. Its hind wings are
relatively small. More pictures and information please click here.
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- Orange-headed Wasp Moth
 - Amata annulata, wingspan
30mm
- This moth has the black hairy thorax, orange head with black eyes. Its
wings are black with translucent yellow-orange spots. It has black and orange-yellow bands on its
body. The Caterpillar is black with brown hairs. Please also
check this page.
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- White Antenna Wasp Moth
 - Amata nigriceps, wingspan
30mm
- This moth has the black hairy thorax, orange head with black eyes. Its
wings are black with translucent yellow-orange spots. It has black and orange-yellow bands on its
body. Notice its antenna have the white tip. Please also visit this page for more information.
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- Orange Shoulder Wasp Moth
 - Amata humeralis, wingspan
30mm
- This moth is common in Brisbane bush. We sometimes find them resting or
flying openly in the Eucalyptus forest. This moth has the orange hairs on
the forewings base. There is a orange triangle on the black thorax. More pictures and information please
visit this page.
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- Orange Back Wasp Moth
  - ? Amata sp., body length 20mm
- We find this mating couple in Karawatha Forest in late summer. We can also
find them near Stockyard Creek. This moth look similar to the Wasp Moths (above) except it has the orange-yellow patterns on its thorax.
We found this moth is quite common in Brisbane bushes.
More information and pictures please visit this page.
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- Reference:
- 1. CTENUCHINAE
of Australia - Australian
Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley,
2007.
- 2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, 1926,
p444 (Syntomidae).
- 3. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p910.
- 4. Moths
of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press,
1990, p438.
- 5. Amata {genus} - BOLD SYSTEM, Taxonomy Browser, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, 2006.
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