Echiomima mythica (Meyrick, 1890)
 (one synonym : Maroga undosa T.P. Lucas)
XYLORYCTIDAE,   GELECHIOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Echiomima mythica
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The Caterpillar of this species feeds on various Australian rainforest trees incluing :

  • Blue Quandong ( Elaeocarpus grandis, ELAEOCARPACEAE ),
  • Omega ( Cleistanthus cunninghamii, EUPHORBIACEAE ),
  • Pongam ( Millettia pinnata, FABACEAE ),
  • Scrub Ironwood ( Backhousia myrtifolia, MYRTACEAE ), and
  • White Tamarind ( Elattostachys xylocarpa, SAPINDACEAE ).

    The adult moth has brown forewings with an unusual bend in the costa. The hindwings are buff coloured. The body is brown. The moths have a wing span of about 3 cms.

    Echiomima mythica
    male
    (Photo: courtesy of Dianne Clarke, Mapleton, Queensland)

    The species is found in

  • Northern Territory,
  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales, and
  • Australian Capital Territory.

    Echiomima mythica
    male, underside
    (Photo: courtesy of Dianne Clarke, Mapleton, Queensland)

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 23.5, p. 228.

    Ian McMillan,
    Echiomima, Xyloryctine Moths of Australia,
    Blog, Monday, August 2, 2010.

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    (updated 6 January 2010, 17 December 2016, 16 August 2020)