| Kou Leafworm (one synonym Psecadia apicalis Matsumura, 1931) ETHMIIDAE, GELECHIOIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
(Photo: courtesy of John Mills)
|
| Kou Leafworm (one synonym Psecadia apicalis Matsumura, 1931) ETHMIIDAE, GELECHIOIDEA | (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley |
(Photo: courtesy of John Mills)
The Caterpillars of this species are black, with a broad yellow dorsal stripe, and a symmetric pattern of white spots on the back of each segment. containing a narrow black central line. There are pale bands between segments, and a broken yellow band along each side. The head and prothorax are black, separated by a narrow off-white collar. The caterpillars are smooth with sparse white bristles..
The caterpillars feed on members of the family BORAGINACEAE :
The Caterpillars spin threads of silk between the tree and the ground, and use them to commute. The caterpillars have a length of about 3 cm.
The adult moths have grey forewings, with a row of black spots along the wing edges, and a further pattern of black spots over each fore wing. The hindwings are yellow with a large black area on each wing tip. The wingspan is about 2.5 cms.
This species has been found from Madagascar to the Pacific, including
and has been found in the northern tropics of Australia in
Further reading :
Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia,
Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 248-249.
Jerry A. Powell,
Biology and Immature Stages of Australian Ethmiid Moths (Gelechioidea),
Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera,
Volume 20 (1981), Number 4, pp. 214-234.
Max Saalmüller,
Neue Lepidopteren aus Madagaskar, die sich im Museum der Seckenberg,
Bericht über die Senckenbergischen Naturforschende Gesellschaft,
1879-1880, p. 310, No. 93.
 caterpillar |  butterflies |  Lepidoptera |  moths |  caterpillar |
(updated 26 March 2009, 31 January 2026)