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Wattle snout moth
Pararguda nasuta
-42.5984, 147.248
Field Notes
Description:
A species of moth of the Lasiocampidae family. It is found in the south-east quarter of Australia.
The adults are brown, with a faint dark spot, two wavy dark lines, and a subterminal row of dots on each forewing, They also have a long pair of labial palps, which are held forward to look like a long nose. The males and females have differently shaped wings. The males have wings with straighter edges. The males also have more feathery antennae. There are always more males to be found at lights than females. The males have a wingspan of about 3 cms. The females have a wingspan of about 4 cms.
Habitat:
The larvae feed on Exocarpus cupressiformis, Pinus radiata and Acacia species.
Notes:
This female did an impressive job of playing dead when I first picked her off the wall. Even when she started moving again and I placed her on a post (photo 2), she kept her antennae tucked down and the surrounding bristles over her eyes. Excellent camouflage.
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