The caterpillars are hairless, and live in a silk web constructed under a leaf.

Pupation occurs in a crevice on the trunk or a branch of the host plant. The pupa has grooves lined with yellow hairs.

The adult moths have white forewings, with a pattern of black dots. The hindwings are grey, fading to white at the base. The abdomen is yellow with black bands, and has a tuft of yellow hairs at the tip. The male moths are unusual in also having a tuft of hair on each antenna. The wingspan of the moths is about 2 cms.

The eggs are flat and scale-like. They are laid singly on foodplant leaves.

The species may be found over most of eastern Australia, including:

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, Pl. 5.2, p. 248.

J.A. Powell,
Taxonomy and geographical relationships of Australian Ethmiid moths (Lepidoptera : Gelechioidea), Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplementary Series 33, 1985, Volume 112, pp. 1-58.

previous caterpillar

Australian butterflies

Australian caterpillars

Australian moths

next caterpillar

(updated 6 November 2008)