Telecrates laetiorella

Telecrates laetiorella (Walker, 1864)
(previously known as : Oecophora laetiorella)
XYLORYCTIDAE

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

Telecrates laetiorella
(Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Aranda)

The caterpillars of this species often inhabit boreholes of beetles and other species, feeding under the bark of

Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus species, MYRTACEAE ).

The adult moths have yellow forewings, each with a broad dark brown basal band and margin. The thorax is yellow, and the head dark brown. The hindwings are brown with yellow fringes. The legs are pale brown with yellow joints. The wingspan is about 2 cms.

The species is found in :

Queensland,

Australian Capital Territory,

New South Wales,

Victoria, and

Tasmania.

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 5.8, p. 227.