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Two-ribbed arctiid caterpillar

Palaeosia bicosta

Photo by Leuba Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

A grey and black caterpillar about 20mm long. Moderately densely packed lengthy pale/golden yellow bristles on back and sides along length of body. Some prominent golden yellow tufts on back, closer to the front end of the body.
Head was red in colour as seen in pic #3. slow moving.

Habitat:

suburban garden - has gum trees and bottle brush in the area. a few times for some unknown reason.

Notes:

Found on a canna plant in the garden after a thunder storm and heavy rain. The caterpillar raised its back end a few times for some unknown reason.

I think it could be a caterpillar of either moth:
Anestia ombrophanes - clouded footman or
Palaeosia bicosta - two-ribbed Arctiid

An ID would be greatly appreciated - will keep trying to ID it myself...

Reference Links:

Lepidoptera Larvae of Australia

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
MartinL
This shows how an unlikely detail, even that last blurry photo can sometimes be very useful for that final ID.
Leuba Ridgway
Thanks martinl. I'll go with the second option which was my initial guess because of the distinctly red head. Pity I could not see the legs or get better macro shots...
MartinL
I share your caution about ID for this species. I am leaning toward the second option although obviously they are closely related. Also called the lichen moth, ( they both feed on lichen), the second has a thicker head region, a red head; as yours does, and some white bristles. Nice.

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PublishedDecember 26, 2011

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