Theretra celata celata (Syn. clotho)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau where it is an infrequent visitor.
Distribution: W.A., N.T., all QLD coastal strip & New South Wales to Tuncurry.
Sighted at Claire Cottage October (2020), February (2004, 2024) & April (2004).
CARE: VERY SIMILAR SPECIES
Theretra celata --- Theretra indistincta --- Theretra inornata
These three Theretra species look similar in size but when seen together inornata is clearly a little smaller than celata and indistincta. They each have some colour ranges and their distribution ranges have many overlaps. Descriptions below are wild moths sitting naturally.
Theretra celata
* Forewings size - 38-51 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly light yellowish brown but usually slightly darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - a small (approx 10% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists above the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pink when freshly emerged browning with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - narrow dark brown to black, clearly exists from apex to inner margin.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - YES
* Discal spot - seldom present.
Theretra indistincta
* Forewings size - 35-48 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly grey or greenish grey but partially darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - an area (approx 25% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists transversing above and below the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pinkish when freshly emerged becoming dull white with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - a thin dark stripe (with often a narrow lighter coloured zone above it) running from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - NO
* Discal spot - nearly always present, very small, black in colour.
Theretra inornata
* Forewings size - 29-42mm long.
* Forewings colour - usually a light greyish brown but occassionally a much darker brown.
* Forewings shadow zone - none exists.
* Antennae - white. (Moulds,Tuttle & Lane do not address antennae colour).
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - usually a dark stripe, from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - not always - sometimes becomes blurred near apex, sometimes ends just short of apex.
* Discal spot - sometimes present, very small, black in colour.
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We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau where it is an infrequent visitor.
Distribution: W.A., N.T., all QLD coastal strip & New South Wales to Tuncurry.
Sighted at Claire Cottage October (2020), February (2004, 2024) & April (2004).
CARE: VERY SIMILAR SPECIES
Theretra celata --- Theretra indistincta --- Theretra inornata
These three Theretra species look similar in size but when seen together inornata is clearly a little smaller than celata and indistincta. They each have some colour ranges and their distribution ranges have many overlaps. Descriptions below are wild moths sitting naturally.
Theretra celata
* Forewings size - 38-51 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly light yellowish brown but usually slightly darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - a small (approx 10% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists above the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pink when freshly emerged browning with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - narrow dark brown to black, clearly exists from apex to inner margin.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - YES
* Discal spot - seldom present.
Theretra indistincta
* Forewings size - 35-48 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly grey or greenish grey but partially darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - an area (approx 25% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists transversing above and below the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pinkish when freshly emerged becoming dull white with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - a thin dark stripe (with often a narrow lighter coloured zone above it) running from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - NO
* Discal spot - nearly always present, very small, black in colour.
Theretra inornata
* Forewings size - 29-42mm long.
* Forewings colour - usually a light greyish brown but occassionally a much darker brown.
* Forewings shadow zone - none exists.
* Antennae - white. (Moulds,Tuttle & Lane do not address antennae colour).
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - usually a dark stripe, from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - not always - sometimes becomes blurred near apex, sometimes ends just short of apex.
* Discal spot - sometimes present, very small, black in colour.
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Theretra celata celata (Syn. clotho)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau where it is an infrequent visitor.
Distribution: W.A., N.T., all QLD coastal strip & New South Wales to Tuncurry.
Moth Sightings:
- Claire Cottage, DORRIGO PLATEAU:
- Oct 2020;
- Feb 2004, 10/02/24,
- Apr 2004
- ELSEWHERE: None to date
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date
- ELSEWHERE: Bellingen Island, NSW April, 2010
Larval food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU:
- URTICACEAE: Dendrocnide excelsa (Giant Stinging Tree), Dendrocnide photinophylla (Shiny-leaf Stinging Tree), Pipturus aqrgenteus
- VITACEAE: Cayratia clematidea, Cissus antarctica, Cissus oblonga
- ELSEWHERE: As for Dorrigo Plateau plus.
- VITACEAE: Cayratia acris, Cissus repens
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be September to April
Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: 50mm - tip of forewing to tip of other forewing 50mm
Mature larva: length - ??mm.
Colour form: Final instar: Green & various shades of brown (light & dark).
Eye Spots: Final instar 7
Other distinguishing features: Large, backward pointing, caudal horn in final instar.
Caudal Horn: Longer curved foreward pointing in young larva, shorter, thicker, backward pointing in final instar.