Tawhitia pentadactylus (Zeller, 1863)
 (one synonym: Aquita claviferella Walker, 1866)
CRAMBINAE,   CRAMBIDAE,   PYRALOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Tawhitia pentadactylus
(Photo: courtesy of Christine Darwood, Namadgi National Park, Australian Capital Territory)

The adult moth has off-white forewings, each with a pattern of brown lines. The hindwings are pale brown, darkening towards the wing-tips The wingspan is about 2.5 cms. The labial palps are hairy, and typically held straight out in front of the head.

Tawhitia pentadactylus
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The species has been caught in

  • New Zealand,

    as well as in Australia in

  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria,
  • Tasmania,
  • South Australia, and
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Philipp C. Zeller,
    Chilonidarum et Crambidarum genera et species,
    Berolini,
    1863, p. 38, No. 89.

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    (written 6 March 2020, updated 19 March 2021)