Gastrophora henricaria

Gastrophora henricaria Guenee, 1857
(erroneously: Gatrophora henricaria)
OENOCHROMINAE , GEOMETRIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 30 July 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

The Caterpillars of this species are large and brown, with a pair of protuberances on abdominal segment three. The first two pairs of prolegs are vestigial, and there are dark triangular ventral marks under those segments. There is a pattern of fine dark lines in elongated distorted loops all over the body. The Caterpillars feed on the foliage of various species in MYRTACEAE, including :

various species of Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus species ), and

Brush Box ( Lophostemon confertus ).

female
(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

The adult moths have fawn forewings, with a dark brown line across each one, and each has a dark brown dot near the base of the inner margin. The hindwings are orange, with a submarginal arc of dark brown dots, a dark brown patch at the base, a dark brown line across each wing. Underneath, each forewing has a purple blotch.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Evan Harris)

The species is found over much of the south-eastern quarter of Australia, including

New South Wales,

Queensland, and

South Australia.