Chrysomesia lophoptera Turner, 1940
Scientific name: Chrysomesia lophoptera
Similar species:
Species in Heterallactis, Lichenoptera and Parascaptia
Species in Heterallactis, Lichenoptera and Parascaptia
Click to enlarge image
Lichen moth (Arctiidae: Lithosiinae)
Image: David Britton
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Chrysomesia
- Species
- lophoptera
- Subfamily
- Lithosiinae
- Family
- Arctiidae
- Super Family
- Noctuoidea
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
Introduction
Chrysomesia lophoptera is a species in one of several genera of lichen moths from tropical northern Queensland that are boldly patterned with gold. This is the only described species in the genus in Australia.
Identification
This species has a large single gold area in the basal area of the wing with purplish-brown wing tips. The wing tips of the fore and hind wings are rounded. Other species have more than one gold area on the forewing, or have more angular wing tips.
Habitat
Montane and coastal rainforest
Distribution
Northern Queensland
Feeding and diet
Larvae probably feed on lichen
