Nov 29, 2019
#1538 - Ocystola sp.
An Oecophorid Micromoth in Mallet plantation, at edge of Wandoo woodland, out at Dryandra. These and a number of other small moths were flying around close to the ground until shortly after the sun rose over the hill.
Ocystola feeds on gum tree leaves, gluing to leaves together with silk, and folding one leaf like a tent. They pupate inside this shelter too.
As to exactly which Ocystola this is, that’s another question. It looks closest to one species that isn’t even native to Western Australia, but the markings are intermediate enough that it could be one of four, one of them as yet undescribed.