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 Peter Huemer, Tiroler Landesmuseen)

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 ).

    The adult moth is pale brown, with a dark spot near the middle of each forewing.

    The species has occurs across Europe and Asia, including:

  • France,
  • Russia,

    as well as in Australia in:

  • Western Australia, and
  • Queensland.

    Further reading :

    Philipp C. Zeller,
    Revision der Pterophoriden,
    Linnaea Entomologica,
    Volume 6 (1852), pp. 380, No. 39.

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

    (updated 17 May 2012, 28 March 2019, 13 July 2021)