Philarista porphyrinella (Walker, 1864)
 (one synonym : Brunia intersecta T.P. Lucas, 1890)
XYLORYCTIDAE,   GELECHIOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley


(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

The Caterpillar of this species bores into the stems of :

  • Native Cherry ( Exocarpus cupressiformis, SANTALACEAE ),

    feeding on the wood and the bark. It covers the entrance hole with silk and frass.


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

    The adult moth has white forewings, each with a broad dark brown stripe and margin. The hindwings are pale yellow with a dark mark near the wingtip. The moth has a wingspan of about 4 cms.

    The species is found in

  • Queensland and
  • New South Wales.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 6.6, p. 229.

    Ian McMillan,
    Philarista, Xyloryctine Moths of Australia,
    Blog, Friday, July 9, 2010.

    previous
    back
    caterpillar
    Australian
    Australian Butterflies
    butterflies
    Australian
    home
    Lepidoptera
    Australian
    Australian Moths
    moths
    next
    next
    caterpillar

    (updated 26 July 2006)