Calcarifera ordinata
(Butler, 1886)

Queensland, Australia, north coast, February 15, 2004, courtesy of Andre

This is one of the Lomacodidae and it is synonymous with Doratiphora colligans.

I suspect the caterpillars, which feed on various Wattles (Acacia), Dogwood (Jacksonia scoperia), Ribbon Pea (Leptosema aphyllum), Gastrolobium tetragonophylla and Roses (Rosa odorata), can give a nasty sting.

The moths are not nearly as spectacular as the caterpillars:

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)
from Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&Stella Crossley ( Stella.Crossley@med.monash.edu.au )

"The adult moth has cream fore wings with black speckles and a row of brown dots parallel to the margin. The hind wings are pale brown. It has a wing span of about 3 cms.

"The species occurs in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and the northern half of Western Australia."