(sometimes known as Narycia guildingi) NARYCIINAE, PSYCHIDAE, TINEOIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
early case, magnified
(Photo: courtesy of
Steve Pearson,
Airlie Beach, Queensland)
The Caterpillars of this species have been found feeding on a variety of plants including:
The caterpillars each initially live in a conical case covered in bits of chewed bark. As the caterpillar matures, the case becomes long and thin.
The caterpillars have a black head, dark chitinous armour on the thorax, and an off-white abdomen.
The head normally is the only part of the body that is protruded from the case, although by holding the case and pulling it back gently, more of the caterpillar can be exposed. The case grows to a length of about 3 cms.
The adult moths of this species are grey with a variable pattern of dark splotches or speckles. The hindwings are grey with darker margins. The abdomen is yellow but usually covered in dark grey hair.
The female has a wingspan of about 4.5 cms The male has a wingspan of about 3 cms.
The species has been found in
Further reading :
Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia,
Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 179.
Harriet, Helena, and Alexander W. Scott,
Australian Lepidoptera and their Transformations,
Australian Lepidoptera,
Volume 1 (1864), p. 27, Plate 9.
caterpillar | butterflies | Lepidoptera | moths | caterpillar |
(written 31 May 2014, updated 23 July 2024)