This Caterpillar was unfortunately introduced into Australia by accident. It is a cosmopolitan pest, particularly damaging textiles. It has been found in animal pelts, ]hair stuffing of saddlery blankets, and even stored guano.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The adult moth has forewings that are brown with dark areas toward the base and small dark markings by the wingtips. There is a fringe of hairs along the back of each hind wing. It has a wingspan of about 1 cm.

(Drawing: courtesy of CSIRO Entomology)

So far, the species has only been recorded in Tasmania in Australia.

Further reading :

Gaden S. Robinson & Ebbe S. Nielsen, Tineid Genera of Australia, Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 2, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 1993, pp. ix,x,10,246-252,263,279.

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(updated 7 February 2008)