Commonly known as the White-spotted Owl-Moth (Donuca spectabilis), is a member of the family Noctuidae and is found across most of mainland Australia.
The forewings of the adult moth of this species have an interesting range of brown and white patterns, although some are dark-brown, grey to black in colour. The hindwings are also similar, but with less patterns. The abdomen has orange segments to the tip. The forelegs have red hairs on the femurs.
The White-spotted Owl-Moth pictured on this page was recovered from a swimming pool in a garden. Whilst it first appeared to be deceased, it then recovered and was able to stand on its legs.
On closer inspection of the moth, we noticed one of its forewings was missing.
Many thanks to Bjørn M Fjellstad from Butterflies, Moths and other Invertebrates of Australia, Facebook group for assistance with identifying this species.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Noctuidae
- Genus: Donuca
- Species: D. spectabilis
- Binomial name: Donuca spectabilis
- Synonyms:
- Eucyclomma spectabilis
- Donuca memorabilis
- Serrodes xanthorrhoea
- Serrodes yorkensis
- Serrodes queenslandica
- Donuca spectabilica
- Donuca yorkensis
Footnote & References
- Butterflies, Moths and other Invertebrates of Australia, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/170745013686340
- Donuca spectabilis, Coffs harbour Butterfly House, http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/cato/spectabilis.html
- White-spotted Owl Moth (Donuca spectabilis), Bushpea.com, http://www.bushpea.com/in/pg/all/w/white-spotted%20owl%20moth%2002.html
- Donuca spectabilis Walker, White-Spotted Owl Moth, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:8e07995d-e488-4e25-80c9-d16a3248ef56
- Donuca spectabilis, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donuca_spectabilis (last visited Jan. 8, 2022)
MothsMoths Index Aedia arctipennis Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Australian Striped Hawk Moth Bag-shelter Moth (Ochrogaster lunifer) Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Convolvulus Hawk Moth Day Flying Moth Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) Four-spotted Cup Moth Green-blotched Moth (Cosmodes elegans) Leaf Case Moth Mistletoe Emperor Moth Plume Moth Rattlepod Moth (Utetheisa) Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Saunders’ Case Moth (Metura elongatus) White-spotted Owl-Moth