Typhonia stelitis
Common NameTyphonia stelitis
Scientific NameTyphonia stelitis
FamilyPsychidae
SubfamilyTyphoniinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, black, white
HabitatWoodlands, rocky areas, and places with lichen-covered trees or rocks
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe (e.g., Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Greece)
Host Plantslichens, mosses
Flight PeriodAugust to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae of this species, like other bagworm moths, construct and live within a portable silk case covered with plant debris, lichens, or sand, which they carry throughout their development.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the mottled grey and black cryptic coloration resembling lichen or bark, and the feathery antennae, particularly prominent in males. The larval case is a definitive family characteristic.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled grey and black forewings, often featuring indistinct paler patches, and distinctive feathery antennae.
