Tonica effractella

Tonica effractella is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It was described by Snellen in 1879.[1] It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from the Northern Territory, Queensland,[2] New South Wales and Western Australia.

Tonica effractella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Depressariidae
Genus:	Tonica
Species:	T. effractella
Binomial name
Tonica effractella (Snellen, 1879)
Synonyms
Cryptolechia effractella Snellen, 1878 Teratomorpha coeliota Turner, 1896

The wingspan is about 20 mm. The forewings are off-white with dark markings, including one on the tip. There are also areas of raised scales.

The larvae feed on Brachychiton paradoxum, Sterculia quadrifida and Gossypium hirsutum. They feed inside the growing shoots of their host plant.[3]

References

1. Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Tonica effractella". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
2. Tonica at funet
3. Lepidoptera Larvae of Australia