Xylorycta luteotactella

Xylorycta luteotactella, commonly known as the macadamia twig girdler, is a moth of the family Xyloryctidae. It is found in Australia. The caterpillars cause economic damage to waratah and macadamia crops, the former by disfiguring the developing flowerheads.[1]

Xylorycta luteotactella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Xyloryctidae
Genus:
Xylorycta
Species:
X. luteotactella
Binomial name
Xylorycta luteotactella
(Walker, 1864)
Synonyms
  • Cryptolechia luteotactella Walker, 1864
  • Cryptolechia cognatella Walker, 1864

Native to much of eastern Australia, it was first described by English entomologist Francis Walker in 1864 as Cryptolechia cognatella.

The wingspan is 17–26 mm. The forewings are shining snow-white with the costal edge narrowly orange, sometimes slenderly blackish towards the base. The hindwings are grey-whitish, posteriorly suffused with light grey.[2]

References
  1. Nixon, Paul (1997) [1989]. The Waratah (2nd ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-86417-878-6.
  2. Xyloryctine Moths of Australia


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