Great Eggfly Caterpillar

Description:

I almost trod on this fellow as it was feeding on weeds. The common name for this species, Eggfly, is a reference to the white oval patch on the forewing of the male butterflies of this species. The caterpillar is black with an orange head. The last segment is also orange. The head bears a pair of long branched black horns. The body surface is also covered with long, branched, orangish-black spines. These spines look whitish and transparent immediately after moulting, but soon become the usual orange. The Caterpillars are intially communal, but later instars become solitary.

Habitat:

Suburban yard, feeding on weeds beneath a conifer.

Notes:

I've seen the butterfly of this species but didn't realise what it was, thinking it was the Common Australian Crow (Euploea core). Both are black with white spots. Now I know the difference between the two, and also recognise the caterpillars of each species.