Ardices canescens Light Ermine or Dark-spotted Tiger Moth
(formerly Spilosoma canescens)
Ardices canescens is found in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, South Australia and Tasmania. We have seen this moth from September to March.
Foodplants
Ardices canescens is polyphagus, meaning it its many different plants. The eggs are laid in clusters on the underside of a leaf and, as early instars, leaf-graze feeding as a group on the surface tissue of the leaf only. In later instars they disperse and eat the whole leaf. Amongst the plants we have found them on are Parsonsia straminea, Eustrephus latifolius, Opisthiolepis heterophylla, Epipremum pinnatum.
