Cryptophasa albacosta Lewin, 1805
Small fruit tree borer
♂ - NSW, Killcare Heights near Bouddi National Park, 18. Mar. 1987, J.C. Keast leg. (ANIC). [AMO].
♂ - NSW, Mt Keira, 2. Dec. 1970, V.J. Robinson leg. (LWC). [AMO].
♂ - NSW, Mt Keira, 2. Dec. 1970, V.J. Robinson leg. (ANIC). [AMO].
♂- Qld, Mt Tambourine, 4. Nov. 1961, I.F.B. Common M.S. Upton leg. (ANIC). [AMO].
♂ - NSW, North Yabbra & Castle Spur Road, Yabbra State Forest 394, 15. Dec. 1999, L.S. Willan leg. (LWC). [AMO].
Cryptophasa albacosta Lewin, 1805. Prodromus Entomology. Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of New South Wales. London : T. Bensley pp. 18 pls and text (letterpress) [12]. Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown, unknown number ♂♀, Sydney, NSW.
Cryptophasa albicosta. Boisduval, 1832: Voyage de Découvertes de l'Astrolabe exécuté par Ordre du Roi, Pendant les Années 1826–1827–1828–1829, sous le Commandement de M.J. Dumont D'Urville. Faune entomologique de l'Océan Pacifique, avec l'illustration des insectes nouveaux recueillis pendant le Voyage. Part 1. Lépidoptères. Paris : J. Tastu pp. iv 5–267. [230].
Cryptophasa albacosta. Duncan, 1852, Entomology, Exotic Moths, in Jardine, W. ed, The Naturalist’s Library, vol XXXII, 117-123 [119].
Cryptophasa albacosta Lewin. Zeller, 1853, Microlepédoptera [S.l. : s.n.] [350].
Cryptophasa albocosta Lewin. Scott, 1864: Australian Lepidoptera and their transformations, drawn from the life by Harriet and Helena Scott. 1. London : John van Voorst [8].
Cryptophaga albicosta, Lw. Meyrick, 1890, Descriptions of Australian Lepidoptera. Part I. Xyloryctidae. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 13: 23–81 [33].
Cryptophaga albicosta, Lewin. Lower, 1896, A catalogue of Victorian Heterocera. Part xix. The Victorian Naturalist, 12: 149-152 [150].
Cryptophaga albicosta, Lew. Walsingham, 1898: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London, vii-xii, following p. 444.
Cryptophaga albicosta, Lw. Turner, 1898, The Xyloryctidae of Queensland. Annals of the Queensland Museum 4: 1–32.Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 13: 23–81 [7] [unjustified emendation].
Cryptophaga albicosta, McLeay. Walsingham and Durrant, 1900, Catalogue of Eastern and Australian Lepidoptera Heterocera in the Collection of the Oxford University Museum, Part II, Noctuina, Geometrina and Pyralidina by Colonel C. Swinhoe; Pterophoridae and Tineina by the Right Hon. Lord Walsingham, and John Hartley Durrant, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1-630 [549].
Cryptophasa albicosta (Lew). I.F.B. Common, Australian Moths, Jacaranda Press, 1963, 1-128 (50-54) [50-51, fig. 101].
Cryptophasa albacosta Lew. Common, 1990, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press. 227-230 (230).
Cryptophasa albacosta Lewin, 1805. Common, in Nielsen, Edwards, & Rangsi, 1996, Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera, 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [86].
Cryptophasa albacosta Lewin, 1805. 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 13 April 2010].
Cryptophasa albacosta Lewin, 1805. 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 16 June 2010].
Original description, Lewin 1805
Pl. 11, Lewin, 1805, pre-publication print, State Library of NSW
FAM. BOMBYX Sec. CRYPTOPHASA
Cryptophasa Albacosta. Pl. 11
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION.
Bombyx Cryptophasa with silvery gray anterior wings, the shoulder, thorax, and a broad margin on the anterior edge, of a silvery white; a row of angular hazel coloured marks on the end, with a faint ear-like mark, and a dusky dot in the middle of the wing. From the shoulders runs an oblique cloud of chocolate dots or little tufts. Posterior wings brown. with a broad silvery white margin and fringe.
This beautiful Bombyx is an inhabitant of the Banksia Serrata, and is a provident insect in the larva state, like the foregoing [C. irrorata]. Our specimen had formed a deep cylindrical cell in a large stem of the above-mentioned tree, at the setting off of a branch, where it had bored into the main wood; sallying out only by night, and bringing to its dwelling whole leaves of the broad foliage of this tree, with dexterity and great labour, exhibiting many marks of sagacity in its progress, and when it arrived at the entrance of its retreat, it raised up the covering with its hinder parts, and slipped down its cell backwards, dragging the leaf after it, the extreme end of the stalk of which it held artfully in its jaws, and did not quit it till it was safely and almost wholly within its cell, where it fastened it down, together with the covering of the entrance by a web. On leaves thus provided the larva feeds at leisure and in security. It changes to pupa within this cell or dwelling in January, making no web, remains thus thirty days, and is on the wing in February, when it frequents the tops of lofty trees. The male is shewn at 3; the female at 4; the larva at 1; the pupa in a section of its cell at 2; and the covering over the entrance at 5, where the larva is seen just going forth from its dwelling .
Subsequent description, Boisduval, 1832
C. A COTE BLANCHE, Albicosta.
Alis anticis caesio-griseis, atomis ferrugineis, costa basi fasciaque apicali niveis; posticis nigris, margine niveo; thorace niveo.
Ailes supérieures d'un gris bleuâtre , avec quelques atomes ferrugineux; la base, toute la côte et une bande transverse près de l'extrémité, d'un blanc de neige; les inférieures noires, avec l'extrémité blanche; corselet d'un blanc de neige.
Lewin, Prodr. Ent. pl. 11, p. 12.
Elle est un peu plus grande qu’Irrorata.
La chenille est un peu velue et d'un gris noirâtre, avec trois rangs de points rouges tubercules; la tète et le premier anneau sont d'un noir brun.
Cette belle espèce habite dans les forêts, sur le Banksia serrata.
Nouvelle- Hollande.
Subsequent description, Duncan, 1852
C. albacosta. — Anterior wings silvery grey, the shoulder, thorax, and a broad margin on the anterior edge of a silvery white; a row of angular yellowish-brown marks near the exterior margin, with a faint ear-like mark and a dusky dot In the middle of the wing. From the shoulder runs an oblique cloud of chocolate dots or little tufts. Posterior wings brown, with a broad silvery white margin and fringe. Rather larger than C. irrorata; female expanding two inches and a quarter. Lewin, pl 11.
The larva resides in Banksia serrata, in the large Items of which it bores deep cylindrical holes, generally in the axillae of the branches. It sallies only by night, and brings to its dwelling whole leaves of the broad foliage of this tree with dexterity and great labour, exhibiting many marks of sagacity in its progress, and when it arrives at the entrance to its retreat, it raises up the covering with its hinder parts and slips into its cell backwards, dragging the leaf after it, the extreme end of the stalk being held artfully in its jaws. It does not quit its hold till the leaf be almost entirely within its cell, where it fastens it down, together with the covering of the entrance, by a web. It changes to a pupa within this cell, in January, making no web; it remains thus thirty days, and is on the wing in February, when it frequents the tops of lofty trees.
Subsequent description, Zeller 1853
Albacosta Lewin.
Magna, alis ant. oblongis albis, interius latissime lilacino-nitidulis, margine postico luteo; posterioribus nigro-fuscis, margine ciliisque albis. (♀)
• Cryptophasa albacosta Lewin Prodromus of Entomology (Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects ol New-South-Wales) p. 12. p|. II. fig. 1-4. — Thon's Archiv 1, S. 36. Tal. 3. fig. 2. a-d.
In der Grösse der Triph. subsequa. Kopf und Rückenschild gelblich-weiss; Scheitelhaare etwas locker. Die weiblichen Fühler verhältnissmässig sehr fein und dabei sehr kurz, fadenförmig, weiss mit starkem, länglichem, oben gerade abgeschnittenem Würzelglied. Taster aufgekrümmt, mit der Spitze nur die Höhe der Stirn erreichend; an dem 2ten Gliede cylindrisch, wenig zusammengedrückt, mässig dick, mit gleichmässiger Beschuppung; Endglied nicht scharf abgesetzt, kürzer als das 2te Glied, dünn und sehr fein zugespitzt. Saugrüssel kaum 2'" lang, dünn, honiggelb, auf dem ganzen Rücken weissschuppig. Beine weiss und kräftig; die 4 vordem Tarsen haben braune Wurzeln der Glieder; vom Hintertarsus ist nur das erste Glied da, welches auf der Unterseite viele honiggelbe Stacheln trägt; die Hinterschiene hat auf dem Rücken lange gelblich- weisse, angelegte Haare, und die 4 Dornen, von denen das obere Paar ein wenig vor der Mitte ist, laufen jeder in einen honiggelben Stachel aus. Hinterleib viel schlanker als im Bilde, convex mit scharfem Mittelkiel des Rückens, braun, an der Wurzel mit weissen, am Ende mit hellbraunen Haaren. Afterglied am Ende und an den Seiten ochergelb. Legestachel dick, rolhbraun, röthlich borstig. Bauch und Randbüschel der letzten Segmente hell ochergelb.
Vorderflügel 12'" lang (beim ♂ zufolge des Bildes etwa 2 ½ '" kürzer), länglich, mit schärferer Spitze und abgerundeterm Innenwinkel als im Bilde, weiss. Von der Unterseite scheint die dunkle Farbe durch, und so erscheint ein Raum, der 2/5 der Flügelbreite und ¾ der Länge beträgt, den Innenraum einnimmt, aber die Basis frei lässt und hinten scharf und schräg (nicht senkrecht wie im Bilde) abgeschnitten ist, grau und mit lilafarbigem Schimmer. In und über der Falte sind einige schwarzbraune Schuppen; (es giebt vielleicht noch mehr Zeichnungen, die aber verwischt sein mögen). Vor und hinter der Querader ist der Grund weisslich, und so entsteht hier ein grauer Winkel, für welchen das Bild einen in der Wirklichkeit nicht vorhandenen Ring giebt. Der schmale rostbraun schuppige Hinterrand hat vor sich eine schmale graue, lilaschimmernde Binde. Franzen grau, gegen den Innenwinkel weisslich, mit grauer Schattenlinie nahe der Wurzel durchzogen.
Hinterflügel schwarzbraun, an der Wurzel mit braunen Haarbüscheln, deren Wurzeln zum Theil weisslich sind. Der Hinterrand ist schmal weisslich (nicht gelb und von braunen Adern durchschnitten wie in fig. d.), was sich in der Flügelspitze erweitert, gegen den Innenvinkel aber sehr verengert. Die Vorderrandzelle ist weiss.
Unterseite der Vorderflügel an der Wurzel und den Rändern weiss, im Mittelraum braun, welche Farbe sich nach hinten verdunkelt und ziemlich scharf abschneidet. Der Hinterrand ist an der Flügelspitze lehmgelblich angeflogen. Hinterflügel wie oben.
Vaterland: Ostküste von Neuholland. Die Raupe lebt in den Stämmen der Banksia serrata, verpuppt sich im Januar in der Höhle ohne Gespinnst und der Schmetterling erscheint im Februar an den Spitzen hoher Sträucher (Lewin).
(Ein Exemplar, von Herrich-Schäffer zur Ansicht geschickt.)
Subsequent description, Scott, 1864
Plate III: Scott, 1864
Cryptophasa albocosta Lewin, Lep. Ins New South Wales, pl 11.
The larva of the C. albocosta was found in early December, located in a branch of the Banksia serrata, but this common species is abundant at other seasons and exists upon plants unconnected with the Banksias. The pervading colour is that of a light French grey [light greyish-blue] finely striated transversely with black lines; on each segment, except those containing the true feet, is a reddish band bearing light spots, each emitting a seta: the first segment squamose and shining reddish, the two succeeding ones partially covered with triangular reddish patches: head black, rough, setigerous. Caterpillar of the male measures about 1 ¼ inch, that of the female larger.
These caterpillars, while they dwell in a tubular cell excavated by themselves in the heart of the wood, yet subsist entirely upon the leaves of the plant in which they have fixed their abode, displaying considerable instinct in procuring their food from outward sources, and consuming it under shelter, within their solid habitations, in comparative comfort. In addition to these provident measures, they endeavour to protect the orifice left for their transit, by constructing, in front, a coarse spun web, secured at the upper edge to the tree, but leaving the lower one free: to this web is attached the debris of their food, presenting a similitude to the fabric used by Charagia for a similar purpose, with this difference, however, that in the latter it is composed of much finer particles, more compact, and with the margins adherent to the bark, whereas, in the present instance, it hangs in front more in the manner of a screen.
Of its further habits, Lewin, who was the first to describe the economy of this group in 1805, says “Our specimen (the C. Albacosta) had formed a deep cylindrical cell in a large stem of the Banksia serrata at the setting off of a branch, where it had bored in to the main wood; sallying out only by night and bringing to its dwelling whole leaves of the broad foliage of this tree, with dexterity and great labour, exhibiting many marks of sagacity in its progress, and when it arrived at the entrance of its retreat, it raised up the covering with its hinder parts, and slipped down its cell backwards, dragging the leaf after it, the extreme end of the stalk of which it held artfully in its jaws, and did not quit it till it was safely and almost wholly within its cell, where it fastened it down, together with the covering of the entrance by a web. On leaves thus provided the larva feeds at leisure and in security.” To this description we may add that we have frequently seen the larva seeking for, and obtaining its food during the day time as well as at night.
The caterpillar, changed to the pupa state within the first week in January, securing the front of the entrance by a silken tissue, leaving, however, a minute circular hole in its centre; when uncared for, the outer coarse covering drops off, and leaves the aperture so far unobstructed.
The Chrysalis (fig. 1, male) is from 1 to 1 ¼ inch in length, elongated in form, and reddish brown: the wing cases long, the head armed with short black spines, the abdominal annuli serrated, which enable the chrysalis to move with celerity within its dormitory.
The perfect insect took wing in February - the male, figured in the plate, is in expanse of wings 1 ¼ inch, the female exceeding 2 inches.
The Antennae ... (fig. 2, male) bipectinated, the pectinations ciliated. Female setaceous.
The Labial palpi ... (fig 3) recurved to about the top of the head, basal joint short, 2nd about 4 times the length and robust, terminal thin and pointed.
The Legs ... anterior pair (fig 4) small, 2nd pair larger, with 2 apical spurs on tibiae; posterior pairs (fig. 5) very long, with 4 spurs; all the tibiae hairy.
Wings, deflexed at rest. Moth, nocturnal.
Subsequent description, Meyrick 1890
Crypt. albicosta, Lw.
(Cryptophasa albacosta, Lw., Ins. N. S. Wales, Z. Linn. Ent. IX., 350 [rect. albicosta].)
Both sexes 40-56 mm. Head, antennae, and thorax white T antennal pectinations of male pale ochreous. Palpi white, base dark fuscous above. Abdomen rather dark grey, sides, apex, and segmental margins white. Legs white, anterior tarsi dark fuscous with white rings. Forewings oblong, posteriorly slightly dilated, costa slightly arched, apex rounded, hind margin hardly oblique, nearly straight, rounded beneath j 2 from 2/3; shining white; a very large subtriangular grey blotch, more or less suffused with ochreous-brown and sprinkled with black, resting on inner margin from before 1/3 to 5/6, its apex nearly touching costa near base; a minute black grey-circled dot in disc at 2/5, resting on posterior margin of blotch; a grey sometimes white-centred reniform spot in disc at 3/5; a more or less developed grey fascia from middle of disc, and another from beyond reniform spot, not rising above it, confluent below it and running into posterior angle of blotch, variable in breadth, rarely broadened to coalesce with hindmarginal fascia; a moderate light grey hindmarginal fascia, including a brownish-ochreous hind marginal line, preceded by a row of black dots circled with ochreous-whitish: cilia whitish, with an ochreous-fuscous subbasal and paler grey posterior line. Hindwings with veins 6 and 7 from a point or short-stalked; rather dark fuscous-grey; a cloudy white streak along upper half of hindmargin, dilated into a spot at apex; cilia white.
Newcastle and Sydney, New South Wales; Melbourne, Victoria; Georges Bay, Tasmania; bred in November and December rather commonly, but not taken at large. Larva 16-legged, rather stout, wrinkled, cylindrical, with long scattered whitish hairs, head with two blunt spines on forehead, and other shorter ones towards mouth, second segment large j grey-whitish, finely wrinkled transversely with blackish-grey, segmental divisions suffused with dark grey; segments 5-12 with a transverse elongate brownish-red dorsal spot towards anterior margin, interrupted in middle, an oblong-ovate oblique brownish-red spot on side, spiracles black, a slender longitudinal black wrinkled subspiracular line, beneath which are three smaller ochreous-red spots in an inverted triangle, two upper ovate, lower more elongate; fourth segment with dorsal spot much smaller, two other very small spots behind it, and an irregularly double spot on side before spiracles, besides the other lateral spots j third segment with a large irregular ochreous-reddish spot on each side of back posteriorly, a similar one below it anteriorly, and usual lateral spots; second segment reddish-ochreous-brown; head black; anal segment brownish-ochreous: feeds on Banksia serrata, Ceratopetalum gummiferum, and Callicoma serratifolia, residing in a barricaded tunnel in the branches and carrying in leaves for food, from September to December. Although the food plants are of very remote Natural Orders, it is unquestionably the same species which feeds on these apparently very different foods.
Other references
C. albicosta, Lewin (Cryptophasa albacosta, Lewin, Ins. N.S.W., Linn. Ent., ix., 350; Cryptophaga albicosta, Meyr., Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 33, 1889).
Melbourne.
It will be noticed that Meyrick has corrected the orthography as regards the spelling of the specific name of this species. (Lower, 1896).
Cryptophaga albicosta, Lw. (Cryptophasa albacosta, Lewin, Ins. N.S.W.) Meyrick, 33. Duaringa. (Turner, 1898).
Type, α. Cryptophaga albicosta, McLeay (Scott, 1864).
...
3637. Cryptophaga albicosta, McLeay.
Cryptophasa albacosta, [McLeay], Lewin's Prodr. Ent. NH. Lp. Ins. NSW. 12, PI. XI. 1-5 (1805)1: NH. Lp. Ins. NSW. 12, PI. XL 1-5 (1822)2; Thon's Ent. Archiv, I. 36, PI. III. 2 a-d (1827)3; Z., Lin. Ent. IX. 350-1 (1854)4. Cryptophasa albocosta, Scott, Transf. Austral. Lp. I. 8-9, PI. III. (1864)5. Cryptophasa albacosta, Wkr., Cat. Lp. Ins. BM. XXIX. 708 (1864)6. Cryptophaga albicosta, Meyr., Tr. Roy. Soc. S. Austral. XIII. 33-4, No. 11 (1890)7; Trnr., Ann. Queensl. Mus., No. IV. 7, No. 3 (1897) 8.
Type ♀♂. Mus. [—?—].
Larva in Banksia serrata 1-5,7. Ceratopetalum gummiferum7 Callicoma serratifolia7 IX-XII5,7, I1-3. Pupa I5. Imago XI-XII7, II1-5.
Hab. Australia4,6.. Queensland Moreton Bay6, Duaringa8. N. S. Wales1-5 — Newcastle7, Sydney7. Victoria — Melbourne7. Tasmania — George's Bay7.
Mus. Oxf. One specimen without locality, probably N. S. Wales. [Drnt. Det. 106 (1893).] (Walsingham and Durrant, 1900).
Fig. 101, Common, 1963
C. albicosta Lew. (101, male 1.4 inches) is found in Banksia and in Pultenaea. (Common, 1963).
Pl. 6.3: Common, 1990
One of the commonest species is C. albacosta Lew. (Pl. 6.3) which ranges from southern Queensland to Tasmania. Its larva tunnels in the branches of Banksia serrata (Protaceae) Callicoma serratifolia and Ceratopetalum gummiferum ( both Cunoniaceae) but at times attacks commercial and ornamental plants, including Macadamia (Protaceae) Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) poplar (Populus, Salicaceae) apricot and plum (both Rosaceae). (Common, 1990).
Diagnosis:
Description:
Head:
Thorax:
Abdomen:
Cryptophasa albacosta, ♂ genitalia. Coolangatta, QLD., 9 March 1913. ANIC slide no. G264, dissected by I.F.B.Common, 1959. Photomicrograph taken at ANIC, Canberra.
Cryptophasa albacosta, aedeagus. Coolangatta, QLD., 9 March 1913. ANIC slide no. G264, dissected by I.F.B.Common, 1959. Photomicrograph taken at ANIC, Canberra.
Food plants: Larva boring in stems, tying cut leaves to bore entrance. Larval foodplants: Banksia serrata, Macadamia integrifolia (Proteaceae); Ceratopetalum gummiferum, Callicoma serratifolia (Cunoniaceae); and introduced Tamarix sp. (Tamaricaceae), poplar (Salicaceae) and apricot and plum (Rosaceae). (Edwards, 2003).
Flight period: November, December, March.
Distribution: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria. Endemic. (Edwards, 2003).
Remarks: