Telecrates melanochrysa

Telecrates melanochrysa (Turner, 1939)
(previously known as Xylorycta melanochrysa) XYLORYCTIDAE, GELECHIOIDEA

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

Telecrates melanochrysa
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

These adult moths have pale yellow forewings, each with broad dark brown bands at the base, midwing, and margin. The thorax is pale yellow, and the head dark brown. The hindwings are brown with yellow fringes. The legs are pale brown with yellow joints. The wingspan is about 2 cms.

The species has been found in :

Queensland,

New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, and

Victoria, and

Tasmania.

Many specimens formerly thought to be Telecrates melanochrysa have been re-identified as Lichenaula arisema.

Further reading :

Ian McMillan,
Telecrates, Xyloryctine Moths of Australia,
Blog, Friday, July 2, 2010.