Black & White Tiger Moth

This is the Black & White Tiger Moth (Spilosoma glatignyi). It is found right across the southern parts of Australia, mostly south of a line from Perth to Sydney. So as not to cause confusion, I should mention that some more modern literature lists this moth as Arctiidae Arctiinae Erebidae and place it in the family Erebidae .

Interesting Fact: Some Tiger Moths store toxins from plants they ate, back when they were hungry little caterpillars. They can then exude a distasteful, toxic, liquid from a gland which is located at the prothorax (front segment of the thorax / just behind the head). This is designed to deter any hungry birds from snacking on it. I have never read that this species is among those that use this deterrent, however, it seems to be what is happening in the photos below.

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