Moths of Toowoomba

Hepialidae update

I have recently received a lot of help on identification of the Hepialid moths that I put on the Blog February 15th, 22nd and March 1st 2017, and I would recommend looking back over them if you are interested.

****************************************************************************************************

 Fraus crocea HEPIALIDAE

I originally put this moth on the Blog as LYMANTRIINAE, Unknown 1296-7837, on May 31st 2017, in the hope that someone would be able to give me help in identifying it. That help came recently from a gentleman, Ethan, in South Australia who has been doing research on the SA Museum Hepialid moths.
 
The moth pictured is Fraus crocea HEPIALIDAE. It one of the primative Hepialids. It is endemic to New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
The wingspan is quoted as being about 20 mm for males and about 35 mm for females, however in the photo you can see the screen mesh, which is 2mm mesh. This gives the moth a wing span of around 30mm, and it is almost certainly a male. There may be size variations depending on climate and temperature as there are in many other species.
Adults vary in colour from pale yellow to brown, red or grey.
The only reference I could find for the larval food plant was for another species F. Simulans and they breed on grasses.

Family:- HEPIALIDAE
Genus:- Fraus 
Species:- crocea

************************************************************************************

Aristeis hepialella OECOPHORINAE OECOPHORIDAE

This unusual moth is found in Eastern Queensland Northern Territory and New South Wales, its larvae feed on green Eucalyptus leaves,  including having been found on Narrow-leaved Ironbark (E. crebra, MYRTACEAE).
Wing span about 20mm
.

Family:- OECOPHORIDAE
Sub Family:- OECOPHORINAE
Genus:- Aristeis
Species:- hepialella











The brown patch on the forewings is often quite large, covering much of the wings

**************************************************************************************************