Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Subfamily: Larentiinae
Genus: Epiphryne
Species: E. verriculata
Binomial name: Epiphryne verriculata
Common name: Cabbage Tree Looper
The Cabbage tree moth (Epiphryne verriculata a native, found throughout the range of cabbage trees. It has a wingspan when at rest of 40 mm. This moth is a fine example of protective resemblance. The moth always rests lengthwise on the dead leaves of the cabbage tree, so that the brown lines on the insect's wings merge with the parallel veins of the leaf., making it perfectly camouflaged against the leaves. Also, the ground colour of the moth is light brownish, of similar colour to that of the dead leaf.
Its caterpillars feed on the young unopened leaves of cabbage tree (Cordyline australis and its cultivars.) Nocturnal feeding activity leaves holes and notches in the expanding leaves.
Caterpillars pupate amongst the debris at the base of the tree trunk.
Epiphryne verriculata caterpillar
Epiphryne verriculata caterpillar on a Cordyline australis cultivar 'Red Sensation'
Caterpillar damage on a leaf of Cordyline australis cultivar 'Red Sensation'
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
