LITHOSIINI of Australia
Footmen and Lichen Moths
ARCTIINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
 
  
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

LITHOSIINI

eggs
  
LITHOSIINI

caterpillars
  
LITHOSIINI

pupae
  
LITHOSIINI

moths
  
LITHOSIINI

undersides
  
LITHOSIINI

forewings

The Caterpillars of the subfamily LITHOSIINI typically have hairs in various patterns over the body. The hairs can cause Urticaria in sensitive people. The caterpillars typically feed on Lichens and Algae. Characteristically, if disturbed, the caterpillars roll into a tight spiral with the head in the centre.

The caterpillars pupate in a cocoon made of silk with their hairs matted together.

The adults are small to medium in size, and many are black and yellow. Some often fold their wings closely along their bodies giving them a stiff appearance: hence their name "Footmen".

Some common species of the 215 named Australian members of this subfamily are:

Aedoea monochroa

Ameleta panochra

Anestia ombrophanes : Clouded Footman
Anestia semiochrea : Marbled Footman

Arrhythmica semifusca

Asura bipars
Asura catameces
Asura cervicalis : Spotted Lichen Moth
Asura compsodes
Asura lydia : Lydia Lichen Moth
Asura monospila
Asura polyspila
Asura semivitrea
Asura zebrina

Atelophleps tridesma

Ateucheta zatesima

Brunia dorsalis
Brunia replana : Lichen-eating Caterpillar

Calamidia hirta : Wedge Footman

Castulo doubledayi : Doubleday's Footman
Castulo plagiata : Yellow-banded Footman

Chamaita barnardi

Chiriphe dichotoma : Reticulated Footman
Chiriphe dictyota
Chiriphe equidistans
Chiriphe monogrammaria

Chrysomesia lophoptera

Chrysoscota tanyphara

Ctenosia infuscata

Cyme pyraula
Cyme quadrilineata
Cyme reticulata
Cyme structa : Banded Lichen Moth

Cyana meyricki
Cyana obscura

Damias pelochroa : Elusive Footman
Damias procrena : Procrena Footman
Damias sicciodes : Tasmanian Footman

Diduga flavicostata

Eilema plana : Little White Lichen Moth

Eugoa basipuncta

Eutane terminalis : Banded Lichen Moth
Eutane trimochla

Goniosema anguliscripta
Goniosema euraphota

Graphosia lophopyga
Graphosia stenopepla

Gymnasura flavia
Gymnasura saginaea

Halone consolatrix : Marbled Halone
Halone coryphoea : Eastern Halone
Halone interspersa
Halone ophiodes : Cryptic Halone
Halone prosenes : Pied Halone
Halone pteridaula : Brown Halone
Halone sejuncta : Variable Halone
Halone servilis : Grey Halone
Halone sinuata : Rock Lichen Moth
Halone sobria

Hectobrocha adoxa : Unadorned Footman
Hectobrocha multilinea
Hectobrocha pentacyma : Five-banded Footman

Heliosia jucunda : Golden Double-bar
Heliosia micra
Heliosia perichares

Hemonia micrommata
Hemonia simillima

  • Hestiarcha pyrrhopa

    Hesychopa chionora : White Footman

    Heterallactis euchrysa
    Heterallactis microchrysa
    Heterallactis niphocephala
    Heterallactis phlogozona
    Heterallactis stenochrysa

    Heterotropa fastosa

    Hobapromea cleta

    Hyposhada pellopis

    Ionthas ataracta

    Lambula obliquilinea
    Lambula pleuroptycha
    Lambula pristina

    Lepista pulverulenta

    Macaduma strongyla
    Macaduma toxophora

    Melastrota nigrisquamata

    Meteura cervina

    Microstola ammoscia

    Notata modicus

    Oenistis delia

    Oreopola athola

    Padenodes cuprizona

    Palaeosia bicosta : Two-ribbed Footman

    Panachranta lirioleuca

    Parascaptia biplagata
    Parascaptia trifasciata

    Parelictis saleuta : Mottled Footman

    Phaeophlebosia furcifera : Forked Footman

    Phenacomorpha bisecta : Bisected Footman

    Philenora aspectalella : Little Mask Philenora
    Philenora chionastis : Dainty Philenora
    Philenora elegans : Elegant Philenora
    Philenora irregularis : Irregular Philenora
    Philenora malthaca : Malthaca Philenora
    Philenora nudaridia
    Philenora omophanes : Delicate Philenora
    Philenora placochrysa
    Philenora undulosa : Waved Philenora

    Poliodule melanotricha
    Poliodule poliotricha
    Poliodule xanthodelta

    Poliosia fragilis

    Pseudophanes melanoptera

    Psilopepla mollis

    Scaphidriotis camptopleura
    Scaphidriotis xylogramma

    Schistophleps albida
    Schistophleps obducta

    Scoliacma bicolora : Red Footman
    Scoliacma nana : Diminutive Footman
    Scoliacma pactolias : Variable Footman

    Stenarcha stenopa

    Stenoscaptia venusta : Orange Double-bar

    Symmetrodes sciocosma

    Teratopora acosma

    Termessa amorpha : Unpleasing Footman
    Termessa catocalina : Speckled Footman
    Termessa congrua
    Termessa conographa
    Termessa diplographa
    Termessa discrepans : Hookwing Footman
    Termessa gratiosa : Favoured Footman
    Termessa laeta : Propitious Footman
    Termessa nivosa : Snowy Footman
    Termessa orthocrossa
    Termessa shepherdi : Shepherd's Footman
    Termessa xanthomelas : Broad-banded Footman
    Termessa zonophanes : Double Yellow-patched Footman

    Teulisna bipunctata
    Teulisna chiloides

    Thallarcha albicollis : Crossed Footman
    Thallarcha catasticta : Four-lined Footman
    Thallarcha chrysochares : Tiger Footman
    Thallarcha chrysochoa : Golden Footman
    Thallarcha cosmodes
    Thallarcha epicela
    Thallarcha epileuca
    Thallarcha epiostola : Gowned Footman
    Thallarcha eremicola
    Thallarcha fusa
    Thallarcha isophragma
    Thallarcha jocularis : The Jester
    Thallarcha lechrioleuca
    Thallarcha leptographa
    Thallarcha levis
    Thallarcha lochaga
    Thallarcha macilenta
    Thallarcha mochlina
    Thallarcha oblita : Hidden Footman
    Thallarcha partita : Dark-banded Footman
    Thallarcha pellax : Seductive Footman
    Thallarcha phalarota : Adorned Footman
    Thallarcha rhaptophora : Desert Footman
    Thallarcha sparsana : Fair Footman
    Thallarcha staurocola : Patched Footman
    Thallarcha trissomochla : Yellow Crossed Footman

    Thermeola tasmanica

    Threnosia agraphes : Unmarked Footman
    Threnosia heminephes : Halved Footman
    Threnosia hypopolia : Dull Footman
    Threnosia myochroa : Heath Footman

    Thumatha fuscescens

    Tigrioides alterna : Alternating Footman
    Tigrioides nitens

    Trischalis aureoplagiata

    Trissobrocha eugraphica

    Tylanthes ptochias

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    (updated 29 October 2014, 16 December 2023)