Oxycanus perditus Tindale, 1935 Chocolate Oxycanus HEPIALIDAE,   HEPIALOIDEA

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

male
(Photo: courtesy of Daniel Heald, Dryandra Woodlands, remnant forest in the Wheatbelt SE of Perth, Western Australia)

The male adult moths of this species have chocolate-brown forewings each with a variable pattern of white markings forming two or three broken transverse bands. The hindwings are plain brown, but extensively covered at the bases by scarlet hairs. The abdomen and hind femurs are covered in scarlet hairs. The wingspan of the males is about 7 cms.

female
(Photo: courtesy of Paul Kay, Wandoo, Western Australia)

The female adult moths of this species have chocolate-brown forewings each often with pale areas along the veins where scales have rubbed off. The hindwings are plain brown, but extensively covered at the bases by scarlet hairs. Some of the abdomen is covered in scarlet hairs. The wingspan of the females is about 10 cms.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Paul Kay, Wandoo, Western Australia)

The species has been found in :

Western Australia.

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Further reading :

Norman B. Tindale,
Revision of the Australian Ghost Moths (Lepidoptera Homoneura, Family Hepialidae) Part III,
Records of the South Australian Museum,
Volume 5 (1935), p. 296, and figs. 24, 66.

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(written 26 May 2018, updated 31 May 2018)