By Kim Pullen – Australian National Insect Collection
To look at a Pink Underwing moth (Phyllodes imperialis) resting you would wonder why it is called pink—because it is brown! In fact it looks like a dead leaf, complete with a scribbled blemish. But the mystery is revealed when this large insect uncovers its hidden hind wings and the bright pink bars flash into view. The theory is that a sudden display of strong colour or pattern can startle a predator enough to send it fleeing, or at least give the prey a chance to escape.
The Pink Underwing Moth is thought to use its hidden colour to startle predators.
Earlier in its life, even before it becomes a moth, the Pink Underwing also employs the ‘startle display’ strategy. If you disturb it, the caterpillar (follow the link for a cool image) will suddenly arch its back to reveal a pair of frightening eye-spots – it’s even been compared to a skull.
Pink Underwing moths are a rainforest species, found from subtropical NSW north through Queensland to New Guinea and on islands to the east. The southern population is considered a distinct subspecies and is listed as endangered.
A relative, the Fruit piercing moth, is a pest. These insects fly into tropical fruit orchards and home gardens where they pierce the skin of the fruit to suck the juices, letting in other organisms that spoil it.
![flickr Bettaman fruit wound](https://blog.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/flickr-bettaman.jpg)
The Pink Underwing moth of North America is a different species (Catocala concumbens), but one that hides its bright colours in the same way.
27th June 2019 at 10:19 pm
My comment is the same as above. I just had a Pink underwing moth fly into my verandah last night. I live in Trinity Beach, Cairns. The specimen I saw was a much darker brown and the pink was a vivid crimson. In 10 years I don’t remember ever seeing this moth at my place.
3rd June 2019 at 7:04 pm
handy except it says nothing about why it is endangered
13th March 2019 at 12:38 am
Was able to find out the species name of a moth that flew into our house in a rainforested area about 15km south of Cairns 🙂 . It was a Pink Underwing Moth – it was a lot darker in colour than the one on your site. Is that because it is from up north and possibly a different sub species to the one in the picture?