Fraus simulans
Appearance
Fraus simulans | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Hepialidae |
Genus: | Fraus |
Species: | F. simulans
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Binomial name | |
Fraus simulans | |
Synonyms | |
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Fraus simulans, the lesser ghost moth, is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.[2]
The wingspan is about 25 mm for males and 35 mm for females. Adults are brown, often with white streaks near the base, and a dark spot in the middle of each forewing.[3] Adults are on wing from late March to early April in one generation per year.[4]
The larvae feed on the foliage of various herbaceous plants, but mainly grasses, including Ecdeiocolea monostachya. They live in a tunnel and emerge at night to feed.
References
- ^ Nielsen, Ebbe S.; Robinson, Gaden S.; Wagner, David L. (2000). "Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea) (Lepidoptera )" (PDF). Journal of Natural History. 34 (6): 823–878. doi:10.1080/002229300299282. S2CID 86004391.
- ^ Australian Faunal Directory
- ^ Australian Insects
- ^ Hardy, R. J. (1973). "The Biology of Fraus Simulans Walker (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)". Australian Journal of Entomology. 12 (2): 113–120. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1973.tb01645.x.