Lepidoscia arctiella

Lepidoscia arctiella (Walker, 1860)
(previously known as: Tinea arctiella)
PSYCHIDAE

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

Lepidoscia arctiella
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

This Caterpillar attaches sticks all around its case, all of the same length, and attaches them parallel to the axis of the case. When the Caterpillar grows sufficiently long, it attaches a new set similarly arranged to the old set, except that more are attached so that the radius of the new part of the case is bigger. The Caterpillar does this several times as it grows, giving a tiered appearance to the case. The case can grow to a length of up to 3 cms.

The caterpillar feeds on plants in

PROTEACEAE, and

EPACRIDACEAE.

The species is found in

Queensland.

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pl. 3.14, p. 179.