Hellinsia lienigianus

Hellinsia lienigianus (Zeller, 1852)
Mugwort Plume Moth
(one synonym : Leioptilus serindibanus Moore, 1887)
PTEROPHORINAE, PTEROPHORIDAE, PTEROPHORIOIDEA

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

Hellinsia lienigianus
(Photo: courtesy of Joey Bom, Kennemerland, Nederland)

The Caterpillar of this species varies from green to brown, and has sparse tufts of white hair along each side. The caterpillar lives in a silken tent, and is reported to feed on various members of the plant family ASTERACEAE :

Mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris ),

Haemorrage Plant ( Aspilia africana ).

Chrysanthemum ( Chrysanthemum morifolium ),

Ox-eye Daisy ( Leucanthemum vulgare ),

Marsh Fleabane ( Pluchea purpurascens ),

Tansy ( Tanacetum vulgare ), and

Cocklebur ( Xanthium strumarium ).

pupa with cast skin of the last instar
(Photo: courtesy of Joey Bom, Kennemerland, Nederland)

The pupa is green with tufts of hair like the caterpillar. It has a bulge where the moth head is developing. It is formed on a stem or leaf of its foodplant

(Photo: courtesy of Peter Huemer, Tiroler Landesmuseen)

The adult moth is pale brown, with a pattern of dark spots on each forewing.

The species has has been found across Europe and Asia, including:

Hong Kong,

Netherlands,

Russia,

as well as in Australia in:

Western Australia, and

Queensland.