''Aureopterix sterops'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

of the family

Micropterigidae Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...

. It is known from eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, where it is known from northern

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, in wet coastal or elevated coastal forest between Mount Finnigan and Kirrama State Forest. The forewing length is for males and for females. The

forewing Insect wings are adult outgrowths of the insect exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. They are found on the second and third thoracic segments (the mesothorax and metathorax), and the two pairs are often referred to as the forewings and hindwin ...

ground colour is pale shining silvery ochreous, with weakly marked

fascia A fascia (; plural fasciae or fascias; adjective fascial; from Latin: "band") is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches to, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. ...

e either dark bronzy brown or pale pinkish brown. These are more distinct in the female than in the male. There are a few dark brown scales along the costal edge at the base and a very small brown basal triangular patch on the costa. There is also an interrupted oblique transverse fascia at about one fifth with a small costal patch, an even smaller spot in the middle and another on the anal margin, the latter often pale bronze. Furthermore, there is a stronger, but also interrupted, fascia at about mid-length, markedly concave inwards, the costal and anal ends triangular onto the margins. Finally, a very pale bronzy transverse fascia at four-fifths. The fringes are pale ochreous. The

hindwing Insect wings are adult outgrowths of the insect exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. They are found on the second and third thoracic segments (the mesothorax and metathorax), and the two pairs are often referred to as the forewings and hindwi ...

is shining silvery ochreous and very slightly darker than the forewing colour.

References

External links

* Micropterigidae Moths described in 1921 Endemic fauna of Australia Moths of Australia {{Micropterigidae-stub