Pararguda nasuta

Pararguda nasuta (Lewin, 1805)
(erroneously called : Paraguda australasiae)
Wattle Snout Moth
LASIOCAMPINAE , LASIOCAMPIDAE

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

(updated 9 December 2008)

Pararguda nasuta
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The eggs of this species are pale blue when laid, becoming white as they dry.

(Photo courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

This Caterpillar is a velvety green, and by day rests flat against the midrib of a leaf, or a twig of the foodplant. The hairs along the body disguise the legs, and the knob on the tail looks like a broken off wattle twig

(Photo courtesy of Merlin Crossley)

If disturbed, it curls the front part of the body revealing two black bands between the thoracic segments. The caterpillar feeds on various plants:

Wattles ( Acacia, MIMOSACEAE ),

Native Cherry ( Exocarpus cupressiformis, SANTALACEAE ), and

Monterey Pine ( Pinus radiata, PINACEAE ).

The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 6 cms. They often are brown in the last instar.

(Specimen: courtesy of Margaret Humphrey)

They pupate in a white cocoon between the leaves of the foodplant. The cocoon has a length of about 2 cms.

Male
(Specimen: courtesy of Margaret Humphrey)

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 nose.

male
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The males and females have differently shaped wings. The males have wings with straight edges. The females have curved wings. There are always more males to be found at lights than females. The moth has a wingspan of about 5 cms.

Female
(Specimen: courtesy of Margaret Humphrey)

The species is found in the south-east quarter of Australia ( including Tasmania). It is widespread in Victoria, where adults may be found thoughout the year. There is considerable variation amonst specimens of this species, so it probably a species complex, and should be divided into two or more distinct species.

A specimen originally thought to be this species was collected on Cook's voyage, and previously been assumed to have been taken at Botany Bay. Later examination of the label showed it was taken in the north. That northern species is now the one called Pararguda australasiae.