Heteroteucha dichroella (Zeller, 1877)
(previously known as : Coesyra dichroella)
OECOPHORINAE, OECOPHORIDAE

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

(updated 4 December 2007)


The small smooth Caterpillars of this species live together in a shelter made of leaves of its foodplant joined together with silk. They are fawn, with a brown head, pale narrow bands between segments, and a stiff bristle on each side of each segment. They feed on the leaves of:

  • Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).


    typical shelter, with newly emerged adult moth
    (Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

    They grow to a length of about 1.5 cms. Pupation occurs within this web of leaves.


    The adult moths are small, reaching only a span of 1.5 cms. They have striking yellow wings with brown wingtips.


    (Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

    The species is found from found in:

  • New South Wales, and
  • Queensland.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Oecophorine Genera of Australia I:
    The Wingia Group (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)
    Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 3,
    CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 1994, pp. 124,119,121

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