Agriophara platyscia

Agriophara platyscia Lower, 1908
STENOMATINAE, DEPRESSARIIDAE, GELECHIOIDEA

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

Agriophara platyscia
(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley, Melbourne, Victoria)

The first instar of this Caterpillar is off-white with red intersegmental rings. As it grows, the caterpillar develops four dark tubercles on the back of each segment, and a wide brown line along each side. The head is dark brown. The caterpillar lives between two leaves of its food plant joined with silk, and feeds on:

various species of Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).

The caterpillar grows to a length of about 2.5 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Merlin Crossley, Melbourne, Victoria)

The adult moths of this species have grey forewings, each with a complex pattern of dark dashes, and a narrow pale line along the costa. The hindwings are pale brown. The wingspan is about 3.5 cms.