Lichen Moths - Subfamily Lithosiinae
This page contains pictures and information about Lichen Moths of subfamily Lithosiinae that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Typical Lichen Moth caterpillar
- Lichen Moth caterpillars usually have less dense hair than the caterpillars in Arctiinae. They feed on lichens, algae or moss.
- Lichen Moth adults are small to medium size, usually with slender body and narrow wings. They do not have the segmental pattern on abdomen. When rest, some of those moths wrap its forewings around its abdomen.
- Bird-dropping Lichen Moth I, Little Mask Philenora
- Philenora aspectalella, body length 15mm
- This moth mimics bird-dropping in dirty black and white colours. There are black bars across wings connected with zigzag line. During the day it was usually found resting on leaf. We have more information and pictures in this page.
- Lydia Lichen Moth
- Asura lydia, body length 20mm
- Species in this subfamily LITHOSIINAE are commonly called Lichen Moth. The caterpillars have dense hair, may be found under log or on ground. They feed on litter or lichens. More pictures and information please visit this page.
- Unknown Lichen Moth
- ? Asura sp., body length 20mm
- Feb 2008, Karawatha Forest
- Lichen Moth Caterpillar
- Asura sp, body length 30mm
- The caterpillar has four tufts of long dense black hair on the thorax. Last picture above shows a caterpillar we found on Dec 2007 in Karawatha Forest, She-oak Area. We took it home and try to rear it but did not success. The caterpillar looked similar to the caterpillar about but only has two tufts of long dense black hair instead of four.
- 1. Asura
cervicalis
Walker, 1854 - Australian
Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley,
2008.
- Marbled Halone
- Halone consolatrix, body length 20mm
- Pictures were taken on Feb 2010 on the wall outside my office. There was a strong florescent lamp there which attract many moths resting there during summer season. Please check this page for more information.
- Unknown Marbled Halone Moth
- ? Halone sp., body length 20mm
- Dec 2010, Karawatha Forest.
- Bird-dropping Lichen Moth II
- Halone sejuncta, body length 15mm
Pictures were taken on Oct 2006 in Karawatha Forest. The moth is black and white bird-dropping mimic colours. There are black bars across wings. Please check this page for more information.
- Lichen-eating Caterpillar
- Manulea replana, body length 20mm
- The moth is brown in colour with a yellow spot on thorax. There are a yellow line on the lead edge of each fore-wing. The caterpillar feeds on lichen at night. Please check this page for more information.
- Little White Lichen Moth
- Eilema plana, body length 15mm
- This small white moth is common in Toohey Forest during early winter. They rested on grass or stem near the ground. When disturbed they flied and rested on another spot a few meter away.
- Unknown Lichen Moth Caterpillar
- ? sp., length 30mm
- Found on a decaying Gum tree trunk during the day. It active at night and feed on Lichens. The caterpillar is brown in colour with dense hairs. It pupates in a cocoon under sheltered crevice. The moth has wingspan 30mm, brown in colour with a yellow strip along forewings margin.
- Reference:
- 1. Lichen Moths - Australian Museum online, 2003.
- 2. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p910.
- 3. ARCTIIDAE subfamily LITHOSIINAE - Some Australian Moths from South-East Queensland, Ian McMillan, 2006
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