About Chelepteryx collesi Gray, 1835
Chelepteryx collesi, commonly called the batwing moth or white stemmed gum moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Anthelidae. This species was first formally described by John Edward Gray in 1835. It is distributed in the Australasian region. Female individuals of this species have a maximum wingspan of 160 mm, while male individuals reach a maximum wingspan of around 140 mm. The caterpillar larvae of Chelepteryx collesi feed on plant species from the Myrtaceae family. These larvae are the largest caterpillars found in Australia, growing up to 15 cm in length, and they are covered in numerous sharp urticating stinging hairs. These hairs are very sharp, and once embedded in skin, they are extremely difficult to remove. The cocoons of this species are also large, and are similarly protected by stinging hairs.
