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