Ptilomacra senex Walker, 1855
(one synonym: Pachyphlebius thoracicus Walker, 1869)
 COSSINAE ,   COSSIDAE

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

Ptilomacra senex
(Specimen: courtesy of Joan Fearn, found in Moruya)

These Caterpillars bore into and live inside the stems of :

  • Grass Trees ( Xanthorrhoea, XANTHORRHOEACEAE ).

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

    The adult moths have a pattern of light and dark fawn on the wings. They have a wingspan of about 10 cms.

    The species occurs in the south-east quarter of mainland Australia, including:

  • New South Wales,
  • Queensland,
  • Victoria, and
  • South Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 26.4, p. 270.

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    (updated 23 July 2010)