| (formerly known as Oiketicus aristocosma) OIKETICINAE, PSYCHIDAE, TINEOIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
(Photo: courtesy of
Harvey Perkins,
Julatten, Queensland)
|
| (formerly known as Oiketicus aristocosma) OIKETICINAE, PSYCHIDAE, TINEOIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
(Photo: courtesy of
Harvey Perkins,
Julatten, Queensland)
This is an enormous Case Moth from tropical Queensland. The Caterpillar covers its case with many small bits of grass, all attached approximately parallel to the axis of the case. The case can grow to a length of up to 30 cms.
The caterpillar itself has a pale yellow head, and has a thorax with black with yellow stripes.
The caterpillar is thought to feed on various MYRTACEAE, including :
The caterpillar attaches its case to some convenient object, hanging its case vertically, when it pupates in its case.
The adult moth is basically greyish brown, with yellow hairs on the head and thorax. The wingspan is about 6 cms.
The species has been found in
as well as in Australia in
This species is often confused with Lomera mjobergi (Aurivillius, 1920), formerly known as Plutorectis mjobergi.
Further reading :
Ethan P. Beaver,
Revision of the genus Metura (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) with description of two new species,
Zootaxa,
Volume 4861, Part 2 (2020), pp. 199-203.
Oswald B. Lower,
New Australian Lepidoptera. No. XXV,
Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia,
Volume 32 (1908), pp. 112-113.
 caterpillar |  butterflies |  Lepidoptera |  moths |  caterpillar |
(updated 30 October 2007, 6 November 2019, 16 October 2020, 19 September 2021)