Manulea replana

Manulea replana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Arctiidae
Genus:	Manulea
Species:	M. replana
Binomial name
Manulea replana (Lewin, 1805)[1]
Synonyms
Lithosa replana Lewin, 1805 Lithosia dispar Leach, 1814

Manulea replana, the lichen-eating caterpillar or lichen moth, is a species of moth of the Arctiidae family. It is found in Australia (including New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania).^[2]

The wingspan is about 30 mm. Adults are brown with a yellow line along the edge of the forewing and yellow hindwings with a black margin.

Like the common name suggest, the larvae feed on lichen. They are brown, except for a black and white patch at each end and in the middle and can reach a length of about 30 mm. Their body is covered in hairs which can cause urticaria. Pupation takes place within a cocoon in a sheltered crevice.

References

1. Dubatolov, V. V. & V. V. Zolotuhin. (2011). Does Eilema Hübner, (1819) (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae, Lithosiinae) present one or several genera? Euroasian Entomological Journal 10(3) 367-79, 380, col. plate VII.
2. Australian Insects