Xylorycta luteotactella

Xylorycta luteotactella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Xyloryctidae
Genus:	Xylorycta
Species:	X. luteotactella
Binomial name
	Xylorycta luteotactella; (Walker, 1864)
Synonyms
	Cryptolechia luteotactella Walker, 1864; Cryptolechia cognatella Walker, 1864;

Xylorycta luteotactella, commonly known as the macadamia twig girdler, is a moth of the family Xyloryctidae. It is found in Australia. The caterpillars cause economic damage to waratah and macadamia crops, the former by disfiguring the developing flowerheads.^[1]

Native to much of eastern Australia, it was first described by English entomologist Francis Walker in 1864 as Cryptolechia cognatella.

The wingspan is 17–26 mm. The forewings are shining snow-white with the costal edge narrowly orange, sometimes slenderly blackish towards the base. The hindwings are grey-whitish, posteriorly suffused with light grey.^[2]

References[]

^ Nixon, Paul (1997) [1989]. The Waratah (2nd ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-86417-878-6.
^ Xyloryctine Moths of Australia

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[1] Nixon, Paul (1997) [1989]. The Waratah (2nd ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-86417-878-6.

[2] Xyloryctine Moths of Australia

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