Helena Gum Moth, Opodiphthera helena
Male
Early February 2013
Sisters Beach
The moth was hanging upside down on the vegetation. Its wings were just showing the two dull dots, but when disturbed it revealed the two bright eyepatches by unfolding its wings slightly. When disturbed further it slowly flapped its wings to appear more threatening.
Eight year old child’s hand for scale.
Moments of the wing flap.
Hand Reared Female
Emerged Late December 2016, pupated about a year beforehand.
Cocoon
Hand raised individuals – wings unfurling
November 2007
Lenah Valley
Images by Robyn Gates, used with permission.
Wild males attracted to a female within the basket.
Images by Robyn Gates, used with permission.
January 2010
Lenah Valley
Release to the wild
Images by Robyn Gates, used with permission.
Early instar larva
Late January 2005
Kingston
Late December 2020
Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart/nipaluna
Early instar larva
Mid January 2014
Rocky Cape National Park, Sisters Beach
Mid instar larva
Late December 2012
Peter Murrell Reserve, Blackmans Bay
Mid instar larva
Mid February 2014
Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart
Second individual.
Later instar larva
Early March 2010
Port Sorell
This caterpillar is covered with numerous small oval, white wasp eggs. The eggs would hatch into parasitic larvae.
Later instar larva
Mid March 2010
Knocklofty Reserve, West Hobart
While photographing the caterpillar a weevil decided to walk along the branch and onto the caterpillar. The caterpillar began to thrash to remove it.
Later instar larva
Late April 2014
Ridgeway
Very yellow individual
Mid March 2019
Ulverstone
Panorama as the caterpillar was much too large for the lens!
More usual green coloured individual on the same day.
Mid January 2023
Tullah
