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Australian Wildlife

  Wattle Snout Moth (Pararguda nasuta)





Wattle Snout Moth | Pararguda nasuta photo
Pararguda nasuta, male, Aranda, Australian Capital Territory

Image by Donald Hobern - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)







WATTLE SNOUT MOTH FACTS

Identification
the Wattle Snout Moth is a brown moth with pointed "snout" that feeds on wattle trees and other species. It gets its common name from the way its mouth parts are held in the shape of a snout. The forewings are brown with two faint lines running across them parallel to the outer edge, with some indistinct small dark spots beyond the furthest line. The antennae are feathery, more so in the males. The females grow to have a wingspan about 4 cm; the males are smaller. The caterpillars grow to about 6 cm long

Size
wingspan about 4 cm

Habitat
various habitats including woodland and bushland with suitable food trees

Food
the caterpillars feed on the leaves of wattle plants and other species of plants

Breeding
the eggs are white and hatch into caterpillars which are green or brownish

Range
Pararguda nasuta is found in eastern Australia from Queensland to Tasmania.



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Lasiocampidae
Genus:Pararguda
Species:nasuta
Common Name:Wattle Snout Moth