Tasmantrix calliplaca
Encyclopedia
Tasmantrix calliplaca is a moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

 of the Micropterigidae
Micropterigidae
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about 20 living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of Lepidoptera ....

 family. It is known from eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, in coastal rainforest from Finch Hatton Gorge, Eungella Range in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

 to Elizabeth Beach in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

.

The forewing length is 2.9 mm for males and 3.3 mm for females. The forewing has strong
purplish-bronze reflections. There are three shining white fasciae. A short subcostal basal streak in the middle of the wing, contiguous with the white dorsum of the head above the eyes when at rest. Furthermore a strong transverse band at mid-length, almost straight and parallel-sided and a small triangular area of white scales in the apex. The apical quarter of the wing, beyond the transverse band, is spangled with irregular white scales, often forming short rows along the veins. There is also a series of three to four small white patches on both the costa and termen of this area. The fringes are largely dark brownish-black, but often white tipped along the termen and at the apex. The hindwing is dark brownish-black with purple or bronzy reflections and the fringes are dark brownish-black.
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