Pyroderces aellotricha (Meyrick, 1889)
Cosmet Moth
 (previously known as Proterocosma aellotricha)
COSMOPTERIGINAE,   COSMOPTERIGIDAE,   GELECHIOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Pyroderces aellotricha
(Photo: courtesy of Caroline Harding, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand)

This Caterpillar is pale yellow with a brown head and prothorax. It grows to a length of about 1 cm. It is a pest on

  • Coconut Palms ( Cocos nucifera, ARECACEAE ).

    Pyroderces aellotricha
    oops: missing abdomen
    (Photo: courtesy of Caroline Harding, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand)

    The adult moth has black, brown and white patterned forewings and plain brown hindwings. The wingspan is about 1.5 cms.

    The species has been found in the south Pacific, including

  • Rarotonga (Cook Islands), and
  • New Zealand,

    as well as in Australia

    Pyroderces aellotricha
    underside
    (Photo: courtesy of Caroline Harding, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand)

    Further reading :

    Edward Meyrick,
    Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera,
    Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute,
    Volume 21 (1889), p. 175, No. 30.

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    (written 13 August 2003, updated 28 November 2025)