White Banded Noctuid Moth
Quite a large moth. Size about 40mm. The first individual I found clinging to a tree with rough bark at about 3 metres. When I approached it flew away. Later I spotted another one in the same area. It escaped again but I managed to see where it went. It was hiding at the base of a tree in high grass. Isn't that a gorgeous looking animal. The longitudinal, soft blue stripes can only be seen from very close. The two lateral stripes across its body of course are characteristic and the colourful, peacock-like eye pattern that make the moth look like a face. Donuca rubropicta is actually quite a strange taxon. Google or google scholar does not produce any search results on the genus alone at all. The animal is featured at http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_noct/WhiteBanded1.htm and http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/cato/rubrop.html though. The red markings I could not see despite being extremely close. It remains a mystery what the caterpillar looks like.
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