Appearance
The caterpillar is usually brown and hairy with four dorsal tufts on abdominal segments one to four, and two lateral white tufts on segments one and two.Adult males have brown patterned forewings, each with a complex spot near the middle, and variable white areas. Females are flightless and have a bulbous body covered in pale yellowish hair.
Food
The caterpillars have been found feeding on a variety of plants including:Blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum, ERICACEAE ),
Tagasaste ( Chamaecytisus palmensis, FABACEAE ),
Pelargoniums ( Pelargonium species, GERANIACEAE ),
various Wattles ( Acacia species, MIMOSACEAE ),
Monterey Pine ( Pinus radiata, PINACEAE ),
River Mangrove ( Aegiceras corniculatum, PRIMULACEAE ),
Spider Flowers ( Grevillea species, PROTEACEAE ), and
Flowers of Camellia ( Camellia japonica, THEACEAE ).
References:
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http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/lyma/australis.html