Atelophleps tridesma Turner, 1940

Animal Species:Atelophleps tridesma Turner, 1940

Males of this northern Queensland species have a large tuft of specialised scales in an invagination of the forewing.

Lithosiinae Atelophleps tridesma male
D. Britton © Australian Museum

Identification

Both sexes have brown transverse stripes on the forewing contrasting with a white ground colour. Females have three stripes and uniform grey hind wings. Males have two stripes plus an indistinct grey brown triangular marking which connects with the invagination on middle of the the forewing. This structure holds long tufts of specialised grey-white scales. The hind wings in the male have a pale basal section with a patch of cream-yellow scales.