Orthaga amphimelas

Orthaga amphimelas Turner, 1913
EPIPASCHIINAE, PYRALIDAE, PYRALOIDEA

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

Orthaga amphimelas
early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Simon Ong, Claravale, Northern Territory)

The Caterpillar of this species is off-white with a single straight brown dorsal line, and two wiggly brown lines along each side. Each segment has four brown dots. The head is off-white with brown markings. The frons is dark brown.

later instar
(Photo: courtesy of Simon Ong, Claravale, Northern Territory)

The caterpillars live singly in a private nest of damaged leaves, frass, and silk.

typical nest
(Photo: courtesy of Simon Ong, Claravale, Northern Territory)

The caterpillars grow to a length of about 3 cms. The caterpillars have been found feeding on

Green Plum (Buchanania obovata, ANACARDIACEAE)

(Photo: courtesy of Simon Ong, Claravale, Northern Territory)

The adult moth has variable patchy brown forewings, each with a pattern of dark, irregular, zigzag liness. The hindwings are pale brown, darkening toward the margins. The wingspan is about 2.5 cms.