Anthela acuta
A very variable species.
IDENTIFICATION AIDS: Adult colour forms for A.acuta females found here are: Grey and Brown, with females being the larger of the two sexes.
A.acuta females are attracted to our moth light, along with A.acuta males.
For the smaller A.acuta males colours range from, Fawn, through shades of Brown, Grey, Yellow, Orange and variations of mixes of these colours. A.acuta males often have speckled black overlay markings on their wings.
In addition to the above IDENTIFICATION AIDS and from our own observances:- Forewing Eyespots, there are always two on each forewing, they usually have a clear centre.
The overall size of Females appears much larger than males.
Dr Andreas Zwick, CSIRO states: “The Anthela astata/acuta complex is highly variable and shows a dazzling variety of colours and wing patterns, even within the offspring of a single female – anything from plain brown, grey and orange to strongly speckled. This complex includes a number of species (also A. ekeikei in New Guinea), many of which are either currently regarded as synonyms or undescribed. There are clear differences in male genital structures for some of them, but without examining primary type specimens for all described species (including synonyms) and using molecular data, it’s not possible to revise this variable complex. A. astata seems to refer to a larger species, A. acuta to a smaller species, but in both cases there are multiple species involved and there are intermediates in size, too. Hence, I generally refer to any of these species as the A. astata/acuta complex. Most, if not all, of your species seem to be smaller and probably A. acuta (or one of the many synonyms that should be valid species).”
This very variable moth occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. We have seen it here in all months of the year except May and June.
Larval foodplants
Different species appear to feed on a variety of food plants. We are yet to breed species through to determine exact food plant relationships for each one.
Many of the larvae we have seen were feeding on grasses in POACEAE. In addition we have found them on Acacia melanoxylon (Blackin FABACEAE. Another was found on Scolopia braunii, (Flintwood) in SALICACEAE. We have also found larvae on the vine Parsonsia straminea, (Common Silkpod) in APOCYNACEAE and on the sedge Lomandra longifolia, (Spiny-headed matrush) in LOMANDRACEAE.