''Cryptophasa delocentra'' 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 ...
in the family
Xyloryctidae. It was described by
Edward Meyrick in 1890. It is found in
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 has been recorded from
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
and
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_ ...
.
The
wingspan
The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan of ...
is about 40 mm for females and 26–30 mm for males. The forewings of the females are shining snow white with a large black dot in the disc beyond one-third and two others transversely placed in the disc at three-fifths, the lower rather posterior. There is a row of small black spots along the hind margin and apical fourth of the costa. The hindwings are snow white with a hindmarginal row of small black spots. Males differs from the females in having the extreme costal edge blackish and the hindwings are distinctly black with snow-white cilia.
The larvae feed on ''
Ceratopetalum gummiferum'', ''
Eucalyptus gummifera'' and ''
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
''Eucalyptus camaldulensis'', commonly known as the river red gum, is a tree that is endemic to Australia. It has smooth white or cream-coloured bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers an ...
''. They bore in the stem and tie cut leaves to the bore entrance.
[ ]
References
Cryptophasa
Moths described in 1890
{{Xyloryctidae-stub