Zonopetala clerota Meyrick, 1883
OECOPHORINAE, OECOPHORIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 5 February 2005)

This Caterpillar lives in the ground leaf litter in a shelter that it makes by joining together two dead leaves with silk. It has been found feeding on the dead leaves of various species of Gum Trees ( MYRTACEAE ) including :

  • Cabbage Gum ( Eucalyptus platyphylla ), and
  • Small Fruited Gray Gum ( Eucalyptus propinqua ).


    The specimen pictured here is from one of a group of about eight very similar species in the Zonopetala clerota group.

    The adult moth has a black collar around the head, and white wings with ragged black bands across them. It has a wingspan of about 2 cms.

    The species is found in the eastern half of Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common, Oecophorine Genera of Australia I:
    The Wingia Group (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)
    Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Volume 3,
    CSIRO Publis pp. 21,22,24,138-143.

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