Handsome AND beautiful

The Fallen Bark Looper Moth (Gastrophora henricaria) is a moth named for the looping motion its caterpillar makes whilst walking. The caterpillar feeds on eucalypts and Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus). Being of the Geometridae family the caterpillar has three pairs true legs near the head and only two pairs of pro-legs at the other end.

The moth is otherwise known as the Beautiful Leaf Moth.  The male moth at rest, pictured left is quite distinctive with a black line across its outer wings. I would call it handsome rather than beautiful! The female is larger in size and lacks the black line, pictured below right.

The surprise comes when the moth is disturbed and shows displays its hind wings that are a striking orange and black in colour, pictured below. The colours probably act as a ‘startle’ signal when disturbed to buy it a bit more time to get away from predators.

Agreed. It’s both handsome and beautiful.