Stathmopoda melanochroa Meyrick, 1897
STATHMOPODINAE ,   OECOPHORIDAE

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

Stathmopoda melanochroa

This Caterpillar is carnivorous. It feeds on various species of Scale Insect ( COCCOIDEA ) such as :

  • Gumtree Scale ( Eriococcus coriaceus ) (on Gums),
  • Wax Scale ( Ceroplastes species ) (on Figs), and
  • Wattle Tick Scale ( Cryptes baccatus ) (on Wattles).

    It lives in a silk tube on a leaf amongst the prey.

    It pupates in its silk shelter.

    Stathmopoda melanochroa
    (Picture: courtesy of CSIRO Entomology)

    The adult moth has pale forewings with a number of bold black markings. The hindwings are white. The moth has a wingspan of about 2 cms. It has a peculiar resting posture, with the back legs stuck up in the air.

    The species was found in the eastern half of Australia, including

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria,
  • South Australia, and
  • Tasmania,
    and has been introduced into
  • New Zealand to control Eriococcus coriaceus on Gum Tree plantations.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 22.13, p. 226.

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 65.

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    (updated 30 August 2011)