Cryptophasa phycidoides

Cryptophasa phycidoides (T.P. Lucas, 1901)

Cryptophasa phycidoides, ♀, Minyon Falls. ANIC.

Cryptophasa phycidoides, ♂, Binna Burra. ANIC.

Cryptophaga phycidoides T.P. Lucas, 1901. Queensland Lepidoptera. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 16: 73–95 [84]. Holotype SAMA ♂, May Orchard, Brisbane, Qld.

Cryptophasa phycidoides (T.P. Lucas, 1901). Common, in Nielsen, Edwards, & Rangsi, 1996, Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera, 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [87].

Cryptophasa phycidoides (T.P. Lucas, 1901). Beccaloni, G. W., Scoble, M. J., Robinson, G. S. & Pitkin, B. (Editors). 2003. The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/lepindex [accessed 17 April 2010].

Cryptophasa phycidoides (T.P. Lucas, 1901). Edwards, E. D. (2003), Xyloryctinae. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/XYLORYCTINAE [accessed 18 June 2010].

Original description, T.P. Lucas 1901
cryptophaga phycidoides, nov. sp.♂ 30 mm. Head white. Palpi ochreous fuscous. Antennae fuscous, pectinatious in ♂ 1-3. Thorax white. Abdomen white with light smoky segmental bands. Forewings costa gently rounded, hind margin nearly straight, oblique to broad anal angle, silvery white, freely covered with grey scales, diffusion of fuscous along veins, and markings darker fuscous. Forewings, costa very finely edged with silver; patch over costal half of base snow white, bordered by fine black costal line, and one or more short black lines posteriorly; diffusion from veins spread to costa, darker toward apex; an indistinct diffusion of fuscous in disc, subtended from a dark spot in costa at 3/5; beyond this a circular zone of fuscous at equal distance from all the borders, marked with darker spots on the veins, three or four dark fuscous spots beyond 1/5 of inner margin; hindmarginal fuscous line, with darker spots between veins. Cilia white with a fuscous band dividing. Hindwings silvery white, with smoky scales towards costa and hindmargin. Cilia as forewings.
May Orchard, Brisbane.

Diagnosis:

Description:

Head:

Thorax:

Cryptophasa phycidoides, wing venation

Abdomen:

Cryptophasa phycidoides ♂ genitalia, gvc2474, Townsville

Cryptophasa phycidoides aedeagus, gvc2474, Townsville

Food plants:

Flight period: October, November. December.

Distribution: New South Wales, Queensland. Endemic. (Edwards, 2003).

Remarks: The male genitalia, with their narrow, pointed uncus and broad, spathulate gnathos, are uncharcteristic of Cryptophasa. The valvae lack a sinus beneath the claspers. Despite the pectinated antennae, this species is closer in many respects to Xylorycta.

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