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

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Schistophleps
    Species
    obducta
    Subfamily
    Lithosiinae
    Family
    Arctiidae
    Super Family
    Noctuoidea
    Order
    Lepidoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Phylum
    Arthropoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia
Lichen moth
Lichen moth (Arctiidae: Lithosiinae) Image: David Britton
© Australian Museum

Introduction

S. obducta belongs to a group of superficially similar moths with almost transparent wings due to thin scaling. This species is the most heavily marked of the group.

Identification

This species has much more brown scaling compared to Schistophleps albida and other similar genera. The two distinct black spots in the forewing cell are absent. The brown markings are extremely variable between individual moths.

Distribution

Coastal regions from far northern NSW to northern Queensland


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

larvae probably feed on lichens