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Mottled Cup Moth ♂ (Doratifera vulnerans) This male moth was grown out and released after pupation. The larva was found here... <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/36663/mottled_cup_moth_doratifera_vulnerans.html" title="Mottled Cup Moth ♂ (Doratifera vulnerans)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2532/36663_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=Bk%2BQroDymdM3asYS4hVl93mPU9s%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Mottled Cup Moth ♂ (Doratifera vulnerans) Also called spitfire caterpillar these can cause a nasty sting from those spines which are everted when the larva feels threatened.<br /> The twisted grey lateral shading indicates that changes are beginning and within the hour this one will form a hardened brown cup around itself in which it pupates. The cup is firmly attached to a eucalyptus stem and looks almost exactly like a gum nut... great camouflage. Another interesting feature of these caterpillars is that they have no legs and move around on a full-length &#039;foot&#039; rather like a slug. <br /> About 25mm long.<br /> I know this is a male only because I grew it out to adult. <br /> Although these cups are a clever disguise the introduced European wasp decimates them.<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36664/mottled_cup_moth_doratifera_vulnerans.html Australia,Caterpillar,Doratifera vulnerans,Fall,Geotagged,Larva,Mottled Cup Moth,mimicry,moth week 2018" /></a></figure> <br /> I particularly like the net pattern on the wings and the moth was surprisingly silky. <br /> Pupation took seven months.<br /> About 22mm long. Australia,Doratifera,Doratifera quadriguttata,Doratifera vulnerans,Geotagged,Mottled Cup Moth,Spring,moth week 2018 Click/tap to enlarge

Mottled Cup Moth ♂ (Doratifera vulnerans)

This male moth was grown out and released after pupation. The larva was found here...

Mottled Cup Moth ♂ (Doratifera vulnerans) Also called spitfire caterpillar these can cause a nasty sting from those spines which are everted when the larva feels threatened.<br /> The twisted grey lateral shading indicates that changes are beginning and within the hour this one will form a hardened brown cup around itself in which it pupates. The cup is firmly attached to a eucalyptus stem and looks almost exactly like a gum nut... great camouflage. Another interesting feature of these caterpillars is that they have no legs and move around on a full-length 'foot' rather like a slug. <br /> About 25mm long.<br /> I know this is a male only because I grew it out to adult. <br /> Although these cups are a clever disguise the introduced European wasp decimates them.<br /> <br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36664/mottled_cup_moth_doratifera_vulnerans.html Australia,Caterpillar,Doratifera vulnerans,Fall,Geotagged,Larva,Mottled Cup Moth,mimicry,moth week 2018

I particularly like the net pattern on the wings and the moth was surprisingly silky.
Pupation took seven months.
About 22mm long.

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The Mottled Cup Moth

Cup moths are Australian insects that feed on eucalyptus foliage. Cup moths usually produce two generations of offspring per year. The adult moths are brownish in color and emerge from their rounded or cup-shaped cocoons in late winter or summer. They soon set to work mating and laying eggs, and the caterpillars hatch in spring and fall.

Info 9 0
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
View Mark Ridgway's profile

By Mark Ridgway

All rights reserved
Uploaded Mar 10, 2016. Captured Oct 18, 2012 09:21 in 8 Alexandra St, Upper Ferntree Gully VIC 3156, Australia.
country flag of Australia Explore Australia 13,072 4,173 3
  • EX-Z2000
  • f/3.4
  • 1/15s
  • ISO125
  • 8.46mm

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