#nolinae

[rattyexplores]

Index Entry - Barasa cymatistis “Small Grey Moth”

More info on the Caterpillar More info on the Moth

Known Food Plant/s Lophostemon confertus “Brush box”, and possibly Eucalyptus leaves.

Taxonomy Order Lepidoptera; Superfamily Noctuoidea; Family Nolidae “Hatted Caterpillars”; Subfamily Nolinae; Genus Barasa

Territory Australia (NT and QLD), New Guinea.

[anthelid-day]

It looks a little bit freaky!

This caterpillar is one of the more creepy-but-cute caterpillars, in my own personal opinion, and one of my favourites because this caterpillar wears its old faces as a hat as it sheds! It sort of reminds me of some skull-collector-like critter, which may look pretty freaky to those who haven’t seen them before. It makes it a little easier to tell which instar they’re up to! 

This caterpillar belongs to the Australian Nolinae/Nolidae family and is scientifically known as the Uraba Lugens. This caterpillar likes to eat gum leaves and it leaves the leafs skeleton behind, so it is also known as the Gum-Leaf Skeletoniser... Which sort of maintains its skeleton-skull-collecting sort of a visual, doesn’t it? (Sort of...?)

This caterpillar has fur that can leave rashes on sensitive people. 

[rattyexplores]

Barasa cymatistis rolling into a ball.

Those hairs do not sting like slug caterpillars do, but they do irritate the skin. My hand still hurts...

[rattyexplores]

(OUTDATED STUDY)

Barasa cymatistis

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Nolinae

Location: On Lophostemon confertus

Age: Late instar

This is a very common caterpillar on the Brush box tree. Though recently I've been finding specimens with incredible colouring! Don't know the reason yet.

10/11/20, QLD Australia