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Clouded Footman - series
Anestia ombrophanes
-37.8994, 145.311
Field Notes
Description:
Three clouded footman males were seen fluttering around for awhile before settling on a door frame. On closer inspection I could see one of them was successful in finding and mating with a wingless female seen here as a furry white ovoid shape with thin black bands and pale orange spots along the sides. The males were of two sizes and had distinctly pectinated antennae. The mating male can be seen head pointing downwards.
Beside the female was a hairy cocoon and an empty pupal case probably recently vacated by the female. Within the hairy cage was also small wrinkled piece of skin shed by the caterpillar before pupating.
Pic 4 was taken 6 days later when two of the moths had flown away and the other was clear-off the female. The female had started laying eggs seen here as minute glistening orbs. The female had the same colours as seen on the caterpillar. Will wait to see what happens next.....
Habitat:
Spotted in a suburban garden.
Notes:
An exciting spotting for me - I have seen empty pupal cases and male moths fluttering around. But to see a female and watch 3 males "courting" her, not far from her place of birth was just great !. <br>
Caterpillars feed on lichen, which probably explains why these hairy pupal cages are often seen in odd places. <br>
Family: Arctiidae
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