Tasmantrix phalaros
Encyclopedia
Tasmantrix phalaros is a moth
of the Micropterigidae
family. It is known from eastern Australia
, in wet, upland eucalypt forests of northern New South Wales
from Minyon Falls to Narara.
The forewing length is 3.6 mm for males and 3.5 mm for females. The forewing ground colour has a strong purple iridescence. There are three shining white fasciae with scattered ill-defined white spots and streaks in the apical quarter. The first is a basal costal streak running from the middle of the wing to about one quarter, with a broadly rounded apex and proximally contiguous with white dorsum of head when at rest. The second is a strong, constant, transverse band across the wing at mid-length. Finally, a small, irregular white patch on the costa at three quarters. The apical quarter has scattered white scales, usually in rows, and consistently forming a series of three to four white patches between
the veins along the termen. The fringes are black with white tips, but wholly white at the apex.
presence of a discrete white spot on the costa.
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 wet, upland eucalypt forests of northern 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...
from Minyon Falls to Narara.
The forewing length is 3.6 mm for males and 3.5 mm for females. The forewing ground colour has a strong purple iridescence. There are three shining white fasciae with scattered ill-defined white spots and streaks in the apical quarter. The first is a basal costal streak running from the middle of the wing to about one quarter, with a broadly rounded apex and proximally contiguous with white dorsum of head when at rest. The second is a strong, constant, transverse band across the wing at mid-length. Finally, a small, irregular white patch on the costa at three quarters. The apical quarter has scattered white scales, usually in rows, and consistently forming a series of three to four white patches between
the veins along the termen. The fringes are black with white tips, but wholly white at the apex.
Etymology
The species name is derived from the Greek phalaros (meaning white patch) referring to thepresence of a discrete white spot on the costa.