Aenetus ligniveren

Aenetus ligniveren, the common splendid ghost moth, is a moth in the family Hepialidae. It is found from southern Queensland to Tasmania.[2]

Aenetus ligniveren
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hepialidae
Genus: Aenetus
Species:
A. ligniveren
Binomial name
Aenetus ligniveren
(Lewin, 1805)[1]
Synonyms
  • Hepialus ligniveren Lewin, J.W. 1805
  • Phloiopsyche venusta Scott, A.W. 1864

The wingspan is 50 mm for males and 70 mm for females. Adult males have green forewings with a series of white, diagonal stripes. The hindwings are shiny pale grey. Females have brown wings with variable green patches on the forewings. Adults emerge in early summer.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Acacia, Acmena, Callistemon, Dodonaea, Eucalyptus, Lantana, Leptospermum, Lophostemon, Malus, Melaleuca, Olearia, Pomaderris, Prostanthera and Rubus species. Newly hatched larvae bore horizontally into the stems of their host plants and then downwards to make vertical tunnels. They cover the opening of the tunnel with silk and wood fragments. They are pale yellow with a dark brown head. They feed on the bark and emerge only by night. Pupation takes place in the tunnel, near the opening.

References

  1. Australian Faunal Directory
  2. "Australian Insects". Archived from the original on 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-12-01.


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