Opodiphthera fervida

Opodiphthera fervida
Jordan, 1910

Opodiphthera fervida male, Queensland, 3 miles W of Mossman,
14. Mar. 1964, from CSIRO

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Genus: Opodiphthera Wallengren, 1858

MIDI MUSIC

"Waltzing Matilda"

ON.OFF
<bgsound src="Waltzing_Matilda_(guitar_style).mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Opodiphthera fervida (wingspan: males: 83mm; females: 90mm) is found in the eastern quarter of
Australia in Queensland: from Mossman to Paluma.

Opodiphthera fervida male, 83mm, Australia,
courtesy of Bjorn Fjellstad,
slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in March-April.

Larvae feed on vines from the plant family MYRSINACEAE.

Opodiphthera fervida female, Queensland, Paluma Lat.19'00? Long.146'12?,
9. Apr. 1979, from CSIRO

Opodiphthera fervida female, 90mm, Australia,
courtesy of Bjorn Fjellstad,
slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae usually pupate in a tough oval cocoon affixed to plants growing below or on the host.

Larval Food Plants


It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Maesa muelleri
Rapanea porosa......

Maesa muelleri
Rapanea porosa......

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