Leistarcha scitissimella
Common NameLeistarcha scitissimella
Scientific NameLeistarcha scitissimella
FamilyOecophoridae
Wingspan (mm)20
Primary Colorswhite, grey, brown, black, gold
HabitatWoodlands, forests, and areas with native Australian flora, particularly where decaying plant matter is present.
Geographic RangeAustralia (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania)
Flight PeriodSeptember to March (Southern Hemisphere spring/summer)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFollows a typical holometabolous insect lifecycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. Larval feeding habits are likely concealed, possibly detritivorous.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, the distinctive pattern of dark longitudinal stripes on pale forewings, and the subtle metallic sheen within the stripes. Found exclusively in Australia.
Description
A small moth characterized by its long, narrow forewings which are pale grey to whitish, adorned with prominent dark brown to black longitudinal stripes that often display a metallic golden or bronze iridescence.
