Common Brown Looper Moth (caterpillar)

Hypodoxa muscosaria

Description:

Not a leaf or a green slug! This is the legless caterpillar of the Common Brown Looper Moth, a moth in the Geometridae family.

Habitat:

Spotted in dry sclerophyll forest. Distribution: east coast of Australia.

Species ID Suggestions

13 Comments

DanielePralong 10 years ago

Thanks Mark! I've corrected all the fields.

Mark Ridgway 10 years ago

Hi Daniele. I believe BrisbaneInsects is promulgating a typo since 2004. I think Lopper is meant to be Looper. The family is known as loopers after all. It's amazing how far it has gone but mostly it's only BI and anyone who has referenced it (like PN users are wont to do) that have this spelling.

DanielePralong 11 years ago

Thanks ForestDragon! This caterpillar often stands straight at an angle as seen on this shot, on a twig or leaf of its food plant. If disturbed, it will drops on a thread.

ForestDragon 11 years ago

What a very odd caterpillar! Thank you for sharing this creature. :)

DanielePralong 11 years ago

Strange indeed! Thanks for your comments Atul and Ashish!

Ashish Nimkar 11 years ago

Strange Inchworm... Nice shots Daniele... Each spotting is providing lot learning...

Atul 11 years ago

lovely pics Daniele!

DanielePralong 11 years ago

Thanks Satyen!

Wild Things 11 years ago

Lovely!

DanielePralong 11 years ago

I think you're right Martin! Thanks for the links. I was amazed by its ability to stand stiff and at an angle!

MartinL 11 years ago

Very nice Danielle. Do you think it may have a couple of parasitic eggs laid onto its body like this one? http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/859...
Here's another reference in case you haven't seen it yet.
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au...