Monopis ethelella (Newman, 1856)
(one synonym: Blabophanes namuella)
TINEIDAE

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

Monopis ethelella
(Photo: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne)

The caterpillars of this species have been found feeding on dirty sheep fleeces.

Monopis ethelella
Male
(Photo: courtesy of Landcare Research Ltd., New Zealand)

The adult moth has dark brown fore wings with a pale spot near the middle, and a broad white line along the inner margin. The white lines join up visually when the moth is in its resting position.

Monopis ethelella
       Monopis ethelella
(Photos: courtesy of Wendy Moore, Melbourne)

The moth has shiny buff hind wings. The wingspan is about 1.5 cms.

Monopis ethelella
Female
(Photo: courtesy of Landcare Research Ltd., New Zealand)

The species is found in

  • New Zealand,
    as well as over most of Australia, including
  • Queensland,
  • Victoria,
  • Tasmania,
  • South Australia, and
  • Western Australia.


    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 184.

    Gaden S. Robinson & Ebbe S. Nielsen,
    Tineid Genera of Australia, Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 2, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 1993.


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    (updated 18 July 2010)