Fraus simulans Walker, 1856
(one synonym :
Hectomanes noserodes)
HEPIALIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
The caterpillars of this species are a pest on pastures,
favoring particularly :
Tussocky Cord Rush ( Ecdeiocolea monostachya,
ECDEIOCOLEACEAE ).
.
They live in vertical tunnels in the ground by day
and come out at night to feed on leaves.
(Photo: courtesy of
Jenny Holmes, Great Western, Victoria)
The adult moths are brown, often with
white streaks near the base, and a dark spot in the
middle of each forewing.
The scales on the wings are very loose, easily rubbing off.
The male moths have a wingspan of about 2.5 cms.
The females have a wingspan of about 3.5 cms.
(Specimen: courtesy of the
Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)
The species is found over most of the southern half
of Australia, including
Victoria, and
Tasmania.
Further reading :
Nielsen E.S. & Kristensen N.P.
Primitive Ghost Moths : Morphology and Taxonomy of the
Australian Genus Fraus Walker
(Lepidoptera: Hepialidae s. lat.)
Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 1,
CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, 1989.
(updated 15 July 2010)
