Xylorycta luteotactella

Xylorycta luteotactella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Xyloryctidae
Genus: Xylorycta
Species: X. luteotactella
Binomial name
Xylorycta luteotactella
(Walker, 1864)
Synonyms
  • Cryptolechia luteotactella Walker, 1864
  • Cryptolechia cognatella Walker, 1864

Xylorycta luteotactella, commonly known as the macadamia twig girdler, is a moth of the Xyloryctidae family. It is found in Australia. The caterpillars cause economic damage to waratah and macadamia crops, the former by disfiguring the developing flowerheads.[1]

Native to much of eastern Australia, it was first described by English entomologist Francis Walker in 1864 as Cryptolechia cognatella.

The wingspan is 17-26 mm. The forewings are shining snow-white with the costal edge narrowly orange, sometimes slenderly blackish towards the base. The hindwings are grey-whitish, posteriorly suffused with light grey.[2]

References

  1. Nixon, Paul (1997) [1989]. The Waratah (2nd ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-86417-878-6.
  2. Xyloryctine Moths of Australia
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