Trichiocercus sparshalli (male)

Common name: Sparshall’s Moth

Meaning of name:

Unknown.

Distribution:

Found throughout Australia.

Description:

This moth has a wing length (nose to wing tip) of approximately 25 millimetres. These moths are usually white, but can be grey. Male moths have a tuft of long pale hair on the end of their abdomen. Female moths have black hairs behind their head.

Notes:

The caterpillar grows to approximately 4 centimetres long when fully grown. The one shown here is yellow but they can also have white, black, brown or red hairs. They often have a tuft of longer hairs sticking up behind the head.

The male moth was found dead in January. The female moth was photographed in May. The caterpillar was photographed in September.