These Caterpillars are house pests, and originally were from India. They were introduced into Australia by unfortunate accident. They are off-white with a brown head. They feed on virtually any vegetable or animal material: fur, leather, grain products, textiles, dried fruit, dead insects, and books and book bindings. They prosper in damp humid conditions, and are able to enter a dormant state if their environment becomes too dry.

They are often found in carpets in damp spots, along the edges of exterior sliding doors or under furniture. They grow to a length of about 2 cms.

The adult moths are brown with dark speckles, and three black spots near the centre of each forewing. The moths also have floppy antennae. They have a wingspan of about 2 cms.

The species now occurs throughout the world, eg:

the insecticide Tebufenozide.

---

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common, Oecophorine Genera of Australia I:
The Wingia Group (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)
Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 3,
CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 1994, pp. 19,33-34,37

---

previous caterpillar

Australian butterflies

Australian caterpillars

Australian moths

next caterpillar