Epicoma contristis

Epicoma contristis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Thaumetopoeidae
Genus:	Epicoma
Species:	E. contristis
Binomial name
Epicoma contristis Hübner, 1823[1]
Synonyms
Bombyx contristis Lewin, 1805 Epicoma tristis Hübner, 1819 Epicoma contristis Hübner, 1823

Epicoma contristis is a moth of the Thaumetopoeidae family. It is known from Australia, including Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria.

The forewings are dark brown speckled with silver flecks, with a row of orange spots along the termen, and a subterminal row of cream spots. There a dark ring with a yellow dot in the middle found in the center of the forewing. The hindwings are dark brown with an orange border.^[2]

Adult playing dead

When the moth is threatened, it is inclined to lie down and look dead, with its wings lifted high and the abdomen curved under, displaying its orange anal tuft.

The larvae feed on the foliage of Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Leptospermum and Melaleuca species. Young larvae are gregarious and feed during the day. Later instars are solitary. They are dark grey and hairy, but the head capsule is white with red sides bordered with black. The body is speckled with yellow dots. Pupation takes place in a sparse elliptical cocoon amongst the leaves of the food plant.

References

1. Australian Faunal Directory
2. lepidoptera.butterflyhouse