Yellow-banded Footman Castulo plagiata Walker, 1854
Scientific name: Castulo plagiata
Alternative name/s:
Lichen moth
Lichen moth
Similar species:
None
None
Click to enlarge image
Lichen moth (Arctiidae: Lithosiinae) Yellow-banded Footman, Castulo plagiata - male
Image: David Britton
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Castulo
- Species
- plagiata
- Subfamily
- Lithosiinae
- Family
- Arctiidae
- Super Family
- Noctuoidea
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
Introduction
This species occurs only at altitudes above 1,000m in SE Australia, and is usually associated with snow gum. The female is not known.
Identification
Males are similar to Castulo doubledayi, but have additional and variable orange markings on the forewings. Females may be flightless, with reduced or no wings. This condition has evolved independenly in other Australian lichen moths.
Habitat
Snow gum forests
Seasonality
Adults fly from late summer to autumn (late February to April)
Feeding and diet
larvae probably feed on lichens
