Cryptothelea species C Haphazard Pyramid Case Moth PSYCHIDAE,   TINEOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley

(Photo: courtesy of Rose Robin, Tamborine Mountain, Queensland)

This Caterpillar initially attaches a set of three or four sticks in a triangle or square around its case, generally all of a similar length, attaching them at right angles to the axis of the case.

(a slight right handed twist when constructing this case)
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Kuttner, Tamborine Mountain, Queensland)

As the caterpillar grows longer, it attaches a new set similarly arranged to the old set, except that they are slightly longer, so that the size of the new part of the case is bigger, but unaligned with the previous set. So the case grows like an irregular pyramid.

(Photo: courtesy of Jenny Whiting, Pennant Hills, New South Wales)

One has been found feeding on

Purple Cabbage Tree ( Cordyline australis, ASPARAGACEAE ).

The caterpillar itself is mainly plain brown with no obvious markings, excepting having a dark brown head, and white joins between the segments.

(Photo: courtesy of Peter Kuttner, Tamborine Mountain, Queensland)

This may a variant case of Cryptothelea fuscescens, or of the Pyramid Case Moth, or the Right-handed Pyramid Case Moth.

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(written 19 April 2016, updated 20 July 2024)