Lichen moth Click to enlarge image
Lichen moth (Arctiidae: Lithosiinae) Image: David Britton
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chamaita
    Species
    barnardi
    Subfamily
    Lithosiinae
    Family
    Arctiidae
    Super Family
    Noctuoidea
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Phylum
    Arthropoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia

Introduction

These small moths with almost transparent wings can be common at lights in northern Queensland. Males have unusual structures on their antennae, legs and forewings.

Identification

Males are easily separated from other similar species by the elongate basal segment (scape) on the antennae and the elliptical patch of elongate scales on the central part of the forewing (sex scales).

Distribution

Coastal and montane Queensland north from Townsville


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

Larvae probably feed on lichen