Unravelling Ochrogaster lunifer, a cryptic species complex.

Nicole McMullen (The University of Queensland).

Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Schäffer 1855, commonly known as the bag shelter moth, is a relatively ubiquitous and abundant Australian native moth species. The caterpillars' behaviour of processioning in single file has meant that many Australians are familiar with them. Their nest, a silken 'bag', is used as a retreat during the day and the caterpillars generally feed at night. The nests can be located within the canopy of their host tree or shrub, on branches, on the trunk or at the base of the host plant species. There are also differences in caterpillar behaviours and the species of plant they feed on, positioning of the egg mass by adult females, the colour of abdominal setae of female moths and differences in wing patterns in adult males. DNA sequence data have revealed that there are at least two species currently under the concept of O. lunifer, but there are likely more. Here, we will use morphological and DNA sequence data to further unravel the O. lunifer species complex.