Four Spotted Cup Moth

Description:

Approx. 7mm, pic 2 shows stinging hairs projected after the caterpillar felt threatened. This is the second year this caterpillar has reached very large numbers, both years they have defoliated large areas of Eucalypt forest, Yellow Box and Red Box being the hardest hit. Of interest, following the first defoliation event, both Yellow and Red Box had their flowering season for a decade.