Plectophila discalis (Walker, 1865)
 (previously known as Acontia oxygona)
XYLORYCTIDAE,   GELECHIOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Plectophila discalis
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda, Queensland)

The caterpillar of this species lives in a shelter of two leaves joined by silk. It has been found on a variety of trees, including:

  • Turpentine ( Syncarpia glomulifera, MYRTACEAE ),
  • Jackwood ( Cryptocarya glaucescens, LAURACEAE ), and
  • Cotton Tree ( Hibiscus tiliaceus, MALVACEAE ).

    Plectophila discalis
    (Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Blackheath, New South Wales)

    The adult moths have cream forewings with dark markings particularly toward the margin. The hindwings are cream shading to brown at the margins. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

    Plectophila discalis
    (Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

    The species is found in :

  • Queensland, and
  • New South Wales.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia,
    Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 5.6, p. 228.

    Ian McMillan,
    Plectophila discalis, Xyloryctine Moths of Australia,
    Blog, Monday, July 5, 2010.

    Buck Richardson,
    Tropical Queensland Wildlife from Dusk to Dawn Science and Art,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2015, p. 219.

    Francis Walker,
    Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera,
    List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
    Part 33, Supplement 3 (1865), p. 786.

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    (updated 15 January 2011, 12 July 2019)