Dryandra moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dryandra moth |
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| Adult | |
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| Carthaea saturnioides larva, probably on Grevillea hookeriana, in Boyagin Nature Reserve, Western Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Carthaea
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| Species: |
saturnioides
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The dryandra moth (Carthaea saturnioides) is a very special type of moth. It is the only known member of its entire family, called Carthaeidae. This moth is closely related to the Saturniidae, which are often called giant silk moths. The dryandra moth looks a lot like these relatives, especially because it has big, noticeable eyespots on all its wings.
Its common name, "dryandra moth," comes from the Dryandra shrubs. These shrubs belong to the Banksia plant group. The young dryandra moths, called larvae or caterpillars, love to eat these shrubs. Because of this, you can only find the dryandra moth in the southwest part of Western Australia, where these specific shrubs grow. Sometimes, the caterpillars also feed on other Grevillea shrubs.
Discovering the Dryandra Moth
Let's learn more about what this unique moth looks like and how it lives!
What Does the Dryandra Moth Look Like?
The dryandra moth starts its life as a larva, which is a caterpillar. This caterpillar has a grey back (dorsal side) and a yellow belly (ventral side). It has clear markings along its prolegs (small, fleshy legs on its abdomen). There are also eye-like markings near its spiracles, which are tiny holes it uses to breathe.
When the caterpillar grows into an adult moth, each of its wings has a large eyespot. The eyespots on its back wings (hindwings) are very clear and stand out. The eyespots on its front wings (forewings) are usually smaller and not as bright. You can see these eyespots on both the top and bottom sides of the wings. The tips and outer edges of the front wings are darker than the parts closer to the moth's body. The pattern of veins in its wings is similar to those of its relatives, the Saturniidae moths. An adult dryandra moth can have a wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other) of about 80 to 100 millimeters (about 3 to 4 inches).
The Dryandra Moth's Daily Life and Defenses
The dryandra moth caterpillars are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. However, the adult moths are quite different! They only fly at night. You can usually see adult moths flying between October and December.
The adult moths have a clever way to protect themselves. If something tries to bother them, they quickly lower their head and body. Then, they move their front wings forward. This action suddenly shows off the big eyespots on their back wings. These eyespots then wiggle from side to side. This movement makes an attacker think that two large eyes, like those of an owl, are watching them. This trick often scares away predators, making them think twice before attacking the moth.
