Common name: Emperor moth.
This large moth comes in various colour forms - they can be yellow, orange, pinkish-brown, grey or brick-red. They have a wing span of 140mm and are found on various species of trees including mangroves and citrus trees. The larvae feed on tree leaves.
These moths are attracted to house lights:
The female lays a row of white oval eggs (diameter of about 0.5mm).
The young caterpillars are yellow and have stiff hairs; they turn olive green and have lumpy 'bits' (tubercles) with tufts of short stiff hairs.
The caterpillar pupates in an oval cocoon.
An emperor moth on a flyscreen door:
These moths are found in the Kimberleys in Western Australia, the top end of the Northern Terriroty and from Cape York in Queensland to Sydney in New South Wales.
