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Australothis rubrescens is a moth of the family Noctuidae, found across Australia (including Tasmania) and in Papua New Guinea. Common names of Australothis rubrescens include Owlet Moth, Ruby Owlet Moth, Pink Noctuid Moth and Indian Weed Caterpillar.

Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

The caterpillar is green or brown, has white stripes and a mottled pattern.

The colour of the adult moth is often described as from reddish brown to pink forewings, each with variable dark markings. The moth can however be quite variable in both shade and colour, with the spots being either vivid or non-existent (making it hard to ID). The hindwings are pale cream to yellow with a wide black border. It has a wing span about 3 cm.

Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Unranked: Ditrysia
  • Superfamily: Noctuoidea
  • Family: Noctuidae
  • Subfamily: Heliothinae
  • Genus: Australothis
  • Species: Australothis rubrescens

Footnote & References

  1. Flickr, Photographs © Marc Newman
  2. Australothis rubrescens (Walker, 1858), Owlet Moth, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/84ac1e81-c3f6-43b7-b549-b1c406893280

Southern Downs Butterflies & MothsAloa marginata (Donovan’s Tiger Moth) Amata trigonophora (Tiger Moth) Australothis rubrescens Candalides xanthospilos (Yellow-spot Blue) Cephonodes kingii (Day Flying Hawk Moth) Genduara punctigera (Crexa Moth) Opodiphthera loranthi (Emperor Moth) Papilio aegeus aegeus (Orchard Butterfly) Tirumala hamata (Blue Tiger)

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