EPIPYROPIDAE species
Planthopper Parasite Moths
ZYGAENOIDEA
  
Don Herbison-Evans,
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

EPIPYROPIDAE larva on AMYCLINAE host
(Photo: courtesy of Donna Newton, Mt Cotton, Queensland)

These Caterpillars are white and globular. They parasitise Hoppers (HEMIPTERA), such as Lantern Flies (FULGORIDAE) and Antipodean Hoppers (EURYBRACHIDAE).


EPIPYROPIDAE larva on EURYBRACHIDAE host
(Photo: courtesy of Simon Ong, taken in Durack, Western Australia)

The first instar caterpillar, as soon as it hatches, has to find and latch onto a suitable host, on which it then feeds. Initially they can be coloured, but the last instar is often white. The caterpillars grow to a length of about 3 mms.


moth of another EPIPYROPIDAE species
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda, Queensland)

The adult moths are tiny, many with a wingspan of about 8 mms. The illustrated moth is actually black with a blue sheen.

previous
back
caterpillar
Australian
Australian Butterflies
butterflies
Australian
home
Lepidoptera
Australian
Australian Moths
moths
next
next
caterpillar

(written 8 April 2017, updated 9 June 2020)