Amatissa fuscescens (Snellen, 1879) (formerly known as Oiketicus fuscescens also Cryptothelea fuscescens) PSYCHIDAE,   TINEOIDEA

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

(Photo: courtesy of Joe Pan, Sabah, Borneo)

This Caterpillar creates a smooth brown silk tubular case, tapering toward the anal end. As the caterpillar matures, the case grows to a maximum length of about 8 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Joe Pan, Sabah, Borneo)

The male moth is brown with a wingspan of about 3.5 cms. It often holds its antennae and abdomen pointing upwards, and erects two tufts of dorsal scales on its abdomen.

The species has been found in

Queensland.

Drawing by Pieter Cornelius Tobias Snellen, listed as Oiketicus fuscescens
Nieuwe Pyraliden op Celebes gevonden door M. C. Piepers,
Tijdschrift voor Entomologie<, Volume 22 (1879), Plate 9, figs. 7, 7a,
image courtesy of Internet Archive, digitized by Smithsonian Libraries.

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Further reading:

Pieter Cornelius Tobias Snellen,
Nieuwe Pyraliden op Celebes gevonden door M. C. Piepers.,
Tijdschrift voor Entomologie,
Volume 22 (1879), p. 117, No. 90.
(English translation)
and Plate 9, figs. 7, 7a.

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(updated 22 April 2011, 6 May 2026)