Calathusa mesospila
Common NameCalathusa mesospila
Scientific NameCalathusa mesospila
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyCalpinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgreenish-grey, white, dark brown, black
HabitatWoodlands, forests, and areas with native vegetation
Geographic RangeEastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
Flight PeriodRecorded year-round in its range, suggesting multiple broods
Flight Stylefluttering
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. Larvae are typically herbivorous.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its unique cryptic pattern of greenish-grey and white mottling combined with dark, wavy transverse lines and well-defined dark orbicular and reniform spots on the forewings.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with highly cryptic forewings, mottled with shades of greenish-grey, white, and dark brown, featuring intricate wavy lines and prominent dark spots.
