Painted Apple Moth. Southeastern mainland and Tasmania.
Dispersal occurs by first instar larvae wandering to a food source.
The mature larva spins a thin silken cocoon on or near its food plant. In warm weather the pupal stage may last 2 weeks. Upon emergence, the wingless female remains on the outside of the cocoon and deposits its eggs in a mass there. Egg hatching occurs in 9 or 10 days. Feeding on the leaf initially appears as small brown grazing marks that later disintegrate to form holes.