Endrosis sarcitrella (Linnaeus, 1758)
White-shouldered House Moth
(one synonym : Tinea lactella)
OECOPHORINAE ,   OECOPHORIDAE

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


(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne )

This Caterpillar is an international house pest, feeding on any vegetable or animal material. It was introduced into Australia by accident.


(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne )

The adult moths are buff coloured, speckled with brown, and have a white head and thorax. They have a wingspan of about 2 cms.

The species occurs throughout the world, eg:

  • Canada,
  • Denmark,
  • New Zealand,
  • Great Britain,
  • the USA,
  • the Shetland Islands,
    and after its accidental introduction into Australia, occurs all over the country, including:
  • Western Australia,
  • Northern Territory,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Tasmania, and
  • South Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 68.

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Oecophorine Genera of Australia I:
    The Wingia Group (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)
    Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 3,
    CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 1994, pp. 19,33-34,37

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    (updated 19 April 2011)