Cryptophasa pultenae
Cryptophasa pultenae is a moth of the family Xyloryctidae. It is known in Australia from New South Wales and Queensland.
| Cryptophasa pultenae | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Xyloryctidae |
| Genus: | Cryptophasa |
| Species: | C. pultenae |
| Binomial name | |
| Cryptophasa pultenae Lewin, 1805[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
The wingspan is about 25 mm for males and about 40 mm for females. The wings are silvery-white, the anterior pair with three small black spots in the middle and a marginal row at the extremity; hinder wings black in the male, white in the female, with a series of angular black marks at the hinder margin: abdomen with a square spot of bright red toward the base.[2]
Biology
The larvae feed on Pultenaea villosa, Acmena smithii, Backhousia myrtifolia, Syzygium australis and the introduced Psidium guava. The larva bores downwards a cylindrical chamber in the centre of the stem of the host plant. The entrance is arched over with a fabric of web and excrement, under which it feeds during the day. Adults are on wing in November, December, January, February and March.
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