Case moths (Psychidae)

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For an introduction to Case moths (Psychidae), see:

http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/psyc/psychidae.html

Case moths (Psychidae)

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

7 hrs ago

Decades ago friends called me to a MAJOR outbreak of Metura elongatus in their inner urban (Melbourne) garden. I presumed the winds had not been suitable for ballooning when the larva hatched. At the narrow side of the house were - literally hundreds of the large case caterpillars. The only plants available were Hardenbergia violacea which they had utterly defoliated and stripped, they had then had to move to eating nearby sedge plants. Their cases were a bit odd as a result of available building materials. I relocated buckets of them. I am not sure if I succeeded - my friend had started jumping on them so at least they had a chance. I also collected one, another time, living on Strelitzia sp. - interesting case there too. No Don, I did not successfully raise these through. I don't think I have ever seen the moth, just the fabulous orange and brown larvae.

Metura elongatus

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

This is what early stage Hyalarcta nigrescens looks like until it takes on the more familiar ribbed & taper out-in shape.

Hyalarcta nigrescens

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

Interesting one. I have not seen one with whole leaves in the early section of the case, usually just small segments before the sticks.

Metura elongatus

AlisonMilton wrote:

22 Aug 2025

Not a butterfly. A tower case moth.