Anthela repleta
A very variable species.
IDENTIFICATION AIDS: In addition to its uniform colour (grey forms, brown forms, extending to almost dark red forms) A. repleta usually have two eye-spots on each forewing, a large one clearly visible and a much smaller one closer to the head, often very much more difficult to see and sometimes not visible. The larger eye-spot has a fine black circular rim with a pale interior. The small eye-spot has a very fine black rim and is also centred white with no other markings. There is a crenulated postmedial band trans-versing the forewing and continuing across the hindwing clearly visible when A. repleta is at rest. On the forewing, centred between the outer margin (termen) and the crenulated postmedial band, is a row of 8 or 9 black dots, these continue across the hindwing but are often less easy to observe. The antennae and visible legs appear to bare some resemblance to the adults overall colouring.
This moth is found in southern Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and Tasmania. At Tallowwood Ridge we have seen it from September to March.
Dr. Andreas Zwick, CSIRO: “Anthela repleta is also very variable and includes multiple species that can be distinguished with morphological characters and molecular data, but again, primary type specimens would have to be examined to resolve this complex. A. repleta varies especially in its shades of brown and red, and in the degree of crenulation of the post medial line on the forewing. This said, the forewing almost always has a crenulate post media.”
Larval foodplants
MIMOSACEAE: Acacia sp.