Heliocosma melanotypa

Heliocosma melanotypa Turner, 1925
HELIOCOSMA Group, TORTRICOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Heliocosma melanotypa
caterpillars in cases covered in dried debris
(Photo: courtesy of Michael Sim, Jerrabomberra, Australian Capital Territory)

The caterpillars of this species are off-white with four brown stripes on the head extending along the body.

caterpillar protruding from its case
(Photo: courtesy of Michael Sim, Jerrabomberra, Australian Capital Territory)

The caterpillars construct and live in a portable case covered haphazardly in flower petals and/or vegetative detritus.

caterpillar with case covered with hairs from Great Mullein
(Photo: courtesy of Michael Sim, Jerrabomberra, Australian Capital Territory)

The caterpillars appear to feed on the flowers of

Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata, ASTERACEAE),

Australian Native Onion (Bulbine bulbosa, ASPHODELACEAE),

Sun Orchid (Thelymitra species, ORCHIDACEAE), and

Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus, SCROPHULACEAE).

The caterpillars normally only project their head and thorax out of the case far enough to crawl around and feed. The case grows to a length of about 2 cms. The caterpillars pupate in their case, which can be left in full view on the flower on which they were feeding.

(Photo: copyright of Brett and Marie Smith, Ellura Sanctuary, South Australia)

The adult moths of this species have silvery white forewings with variable grey-edged black patches, The forewings have areas of raised scales. The hindwings are pale brown. The long labial palps are white and hairy, and held straight out in front of the head. The wingspan is about 2 cms.

(Photo: copyright of Brett and Marie Smith, Ellura Sanctuary, South Australia)

The species occurs Australia, having been found in :

New South Wales,

Australian Capital Territory,

Victoria,

South Australia, and

Western Australia.

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