Leptocneria reducta

Leptocneria reducta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lymantriidae
Genus:	Leptocneria
Species:	L. reducta
Binomial name
Leptocneria reducta (Walker, 1855)[1]
Synonyms
Darala reducta Walker, 1855 Anthelymantria bistigmalis Strand, 1925 Anthela curanda Strand, 1929 Lymantria aurivillii Bryk, 1934 Lymantria aurivilli

The White Cedar Moth (Leptocneria reducta) is a moth of the Lymantriidae family. It is found in all of Australia, except Tasmania.

Larva

The wingspan is about 45 mm for females and 35 mm for males.

The larvae feed on Melia azedarach.^[2]

The caterpillars live communally. They come out of hiding in the evening when they swarm the tree trunk and the branches to get to the leaves, which they eat. The caterpillars feed communally until the tree becomes defoliated. At this point they will start searching for a new host, sometimes invading buildings in their search.

The caterpillars are covered in bristles, inducing an allergic reaction (Urticaria) with some people.

References

1. Australian Faunal Directory
2. Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley (May 30, 2008). "Leptocneria reducta". uts.edu.au. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-28.