Snowy Footman Termessa nivosa (Walker, 1865)
Scientific name: Termessa nivosa
Alternative name/s:
Lichen moth
Lichen moth
Similar species:
T. orthocrossa
T. orthocrossa
Click to enlarge image
Lichen moth (Arctiidae: Lithosiinae).
Snowy Footman, Termessa nivosa (Walker, 1865)
Image: David Britton
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Termessa
- Species
- nivosa
- Subfamily
- Lithosiinae
- Family
- Arctiidae
- Super Family
- Noctuoidea
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Class
- Insecta
-
- Life history mode
- terrestrial, volant
T. nivosa is one of the most common Termessa species in southeastern mainland Australia.
Identification
The only Termessa species which is predominantly white. There is very little variation between individual moths throughout the range of this species.
DISCLAIMER: The identifications presented on these pages should be taken as indicative only. As with many groups of Australian insects there has been no formal revision of the Lithosiinae in recent years, and there are many undescribed species present in collections. Many species are superficially similar, and require a specialist to separate them.
Habitat
Forested regions along the Dividing Range, including wet forests.
Distribution
From Victoria north to the Allyn River in NSW
This map shows species occurrence observations from data recorded in the Atlas of Living Australia.
Feeding and diet
Larvae probably feed on lichen.
Reproduction and life cycle
Breeding season
October to December.
