Snake Vine Moth
Common NameSnake Vine Moth
Scientific NamePhytometra laevis
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyErebinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgolden-yellow, brown, dark brown
HabitatOpen forests, woodlands, and disturbed areas where its host plant grows.
Geographic RangeEastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
Host PlantsStephania japonica
Flight PeriodThroughout warmer months, multiple broods
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis: eggs hatch into larvae (caterpillars) which feed on the host plant, pupate, and then emerge as adult moths.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive angular wing shape and the intricate golden-brown, leaf-like pattern on the forewings, often with prominent venation highlighted in gold.
Description
A small moth with intricately patterned wings, featuring a mix of golden-yellow and various shades of brown, giving it a cryptic, leaf-like appearance. Its wings have a distinctive angular shape when at rest.
