Common Emperor (Bunaea alcinoe)

Family Saturniidae

They also are known by the name of Cabbage Tree Emperors as their larvae is found there as well as on Bauhinia.

 These moths are large with a wingspan of about 16cm.

 At the moment the trees are covered with these caterpillars which are as thick as my thumb and just as big in diameter.

Photograph of the moth courtesy of Ilse Riediger.