Epiphyas ashworthana

Epiphyas ashworthana (Newman, 1856)
(one synonym : Teras responsana Walker, 1863)
ARCHIPINI, TORTRICINAE, TORTRICIDAE, TORTRICOIDEA

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

early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley, Melbourne, Victoria)

This Caterpillar is initially green with a pale brown head capsule. Later instars develop a green head, and a pair of white lines along the back.

later instar
(Photo: courtesy of David Akers, Won Wron, Victoria)

The caterpillar has been found through October to December in Melbourne feeding on various bipinnate wattles (Acacia species, MIMOSACEAE), including :

Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana),

Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata), and

Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii).

The caterpillar conceals itself by making and living in a shelter of silk-bowed wattle fronds. If disturbed, it will flee by wriggling backwards.

pupa extracted from the silky shelter
(Photo: courtesy of David Akers, Won Wron, Victoria)

The caterpillar grows to a length of about 2 cms. The pupa is formed in its shelter. Initially the pupa is bright green, but it turns brown after a day or so.

pupa, still attached to withered final larval skin.
(Photo: courtesy of David Akers, Won Wron, Victoria)

In summer, the pupal duration is only about a week.

(Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Aranda, Australian Capital Territory)

The adults have forewings that are brown with a very variable pattern of various dark dots, bands, and patches.

(Photo: courtesy of the Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The hindwings are pale brown with faint dark spots and bands. The head is often white. The moths have a resting shape like the outline of a bell. They have a wingspan of about 2 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The species has been found in Australia in

Queensland,

New South Wales,

Australian Capital Territory,

Victoria, and

Tasmania.

(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)