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Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023 260
Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas
hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera:
Psychidae: Oiketicinae
Ethan P. BEAVER
Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, RN Robertson
Building, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, The Australian National University, Acton,
ACT 2601, Australia.
Australian National Insect Collection, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601,
Australia.
ethan.beaver@anu.edu.au
LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DD372D21-5B47-430D-B27C-A85668DD53C8
https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.64.2023.2022-02
Citation: Beaver, E.P. 2023. Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas
hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature 64: 260–272. Brisbane ISSN
2204-1478 (Online), ISSN 0079-8835 (Print). Accepted: 9 February 2023.
Published online: 28 April 2023.
Keywords:
Allocasuarina luehmannii | bagworm | buloke | case moth | Casuarinaceae | description |
larval biology.
ABSTRACT
The rarely seen Bathromelas Turner 1947, a monotypic Australian endemic genus with the
species Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907), is rediscovered, and a new description
is provided. The male genitalia, female, pupae of both sexes, late instar larvae, and the unique
case design are all figured and described for the first time. The larval host plant is identified
as Allocasuarina luehmannii (Casuarinaceae), with B. hyaloscopa regarded as a Casuarinaceae
specialist, unusual as oiketicine psychids are typically polyphagous. Prior to this study the
species was known from only three male specimens, with the most recent of those collected
in 1938. The data for all known and new specimens is included, and a brief discussion on the
systematic ainity of this genus is provided.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023261
Ethan P. BEAVER
The case moths or bagworms, family Psychidae,
are a familiar sight across much of Australia, where
their prominent and intricately constructed larval
cases are frequently found attached to plants,
fences, buildings, or almost any available vertical
surface. Although some taxa are abundant and
ubiquitous, others are very rarely seen, one such
being the endemic but obscure Bathromelas
Turner, 1947, with the single species B. hyaloscopa
(Meyrick & Lower, 1907), a name based on a single
male specimen in SAM from ‘north-west Victoria’. In
their original description, Meyrick & Lower (1907)
placed this species within Plutorectis Meyrick
& Lower, now considered a synonym of Lomera
Walker, 1855 (Betrem 1951). Turner (1947) described
the genus Bathromelas for this species, and refers
to an additional specimen from Injune, Qld in QM.
A second Injune specimen is in ANIC. This and the
QM specimen were both collected in 1938, with no
adult specimens having been collected since. No
publication has dealt with this genus beyond that of
well-known checklists (i.e. Nielsen & Edwards 1996,
Sobczyk 2011), and no new information on this taxon
has been published since Turner’s 1947 paper.
In 2021–2022 the author travelled through rural New
South Wales and Queensland and collected a series
(n= 15) of live larvae and empty larval cases of a large
and distinctive psychid, all from between Yetman,
NSW and Injune, Qld. The case design was unusual
(Fig. 3) and did not conform to any described
species or case structure, but were identical to
an empty case present in the SAM collection, and
a further case from the QM collection. Neither of
these two museum specimens were associated
with an emerged adult or a correct identification.
Subsequent rearing of the larval material collected
in 2021–22 has confirmed the identity of these larvae
and larval cases as that of Bathromelas hyaloscopa
(and with it the confirmation of host plant, habitat,
larval and pupal morphology, case design, and adult
female morphology) and has provided enough
additional male specimens for genitalia dissection,
all of which was previously unknown.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The following museums, institutions and private
collections contain specimens of this species: ANIC
(Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra),
SAMA (South Australian Museum, Adelaide), QM
(Queensland Museum). Larval specimens were
collected in the field by searching vegetation.
Specimens were reared in 2021–22 by sleeving
larvae (n = 8) on planted outdoor Casuarina glauca
for approx. 6 months (Mar-Sept) then transferred
to a ventilated, mesh-topped glass enclosure kept
indoors at approximately 15-25°C, and were fed both
C. glauca and A. luehmannii. Pupae were transferred
to a ventilated pop-up enclosure, and monitored
daily for signs of eclosion. Adult male specimens
were preserved on the day of eclosion, and empty
cases retained with them. Two late instar larvae
are preserved in ethanol, one empty male pupa
also, females and their respective empty pupae in
ethanol, dissected genitalia stored in vials in the
same collection as respective specimens. In-text, a
‘/’ in transcribed label data denotes a separate label.
Two partial CO1 sequences were extracted
from parasitoid chalcid wasps (BOLD records
AUHYM001-22, AUHYM002-22, E.P. Fagan-Jeries
pers. comm.) that emerged from one female pupal
Bathromelas specimen. Chalcid specimens and
associated Bathromelas larval case are stored in ANIC.
Adult specimens were dissected by removing the
entire abdomen and legs from the left side from the
males, soaked in boiling 10% KOH for 8–10 minutes
before being cleared in water, with genitalia and
remaining abdominal tergites/sternites stored in
95% ethanol solution. Females were dissected in the
same way except full-body dissection was performed
rather than partial. Terminology for genitalia used
herein follows that of Robinson & Nielsen (1993) and
Arnscheid & Weidlich (2017).
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023 262
Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae
RESULTS
Family PSYCHIDAE Boisduval, 1829
Subfamily OIKETICINAE Herrich-Schäer, 1855
Genus Bathromelas Turner, 1947
Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907)
Buloke Bagworm Moth
(Figs 1-4)
Holotype ♂: Victoria. N.W. from Casuarina suberosa
/ 4151 P. hyaloscopa TYPE.: M & L / 13 / SAMA 31-
000282 (in SAMA).
Additional material examined: In ANIC: 3♂ with
cases, 2♀ with case, 1 larva, and 5 additional empty
cases. ♂: Injune, Q., 3.10.1938, W.B. Barnard / ANIC
31-075892. ♂ with case: 8.5 km SW Yetman, NSW,
AUST. 28.94305°S, 150.70244°E. E.P. Beaver & M.F.
Braby / Collected 4 Feb 2021 as larva on foliage of
Allocasuarina luehmannii. Pupated Sep 2021, eclosed
16 Nov 2021. ♂ with case: Ellangowan NR, Leyburn,
Qld, AUST. 430 m elev. 27.96260°S, 151.65175°E,
E.P. Beaver & M.F. Braby / Collected 11-13 Feb 2021
as larva on foliage of Allocasuarina luehmannii.
Pupated Sep 2021, eclosed 30 Oct 2021 / ANIC 31-
075884. ♀ with case: Ellangowan NR, Leyburn,
Qld, AUST. 430 m elev. 27.96260°S, 151.65175°E,
E.P. Beaver & M.F. Braby / Collected 11-13 Feb 2021
as larva on foliage of Allocasuarina luehmannii.
Pupated mid Oct 2021, eclosed 21 November 2021.
/ Dissection ID EPB-154 / ANIC 31-075885. Larva
with case: Ellangowan NR, Leyburn, Qld, AUST.
430 m elev. 27.96260°S, 151.65175°E, E.P. Beaver &
M.F. Braby / Collected 11-13 Feb 2021 as larva on
foliage of Allocasuarina luehmannii. ‘Mature larva
preserved 26 Dec 2021’ ANIC 31-075886. 1 Empty
case: Ellangowan NR, Leyburn, Qld, AUST. 430 m
elev. 27.96260°S, 151.65175°E, E.P. Beaver & M.F.
Braby / Collected 11-13 Feb 2021 as larva on foliage of
Allocasuarina luehmannii. / Approx 50 Chalcididae
parasitoids from female pupa, none exited bag. 14
Sep 2021 / ANIC 31-075887. 1 Empty case: Dthinna
Dthinnawan NP, 15 km NNW Yetman, NSW, AUST.
28.77036°S, 150.74561°E, 03 Feb 2021, E.P. Beaver &
M.F. Braby / Empty case on trunk of Allocasuarina
luehmannii / ANIC 31-075888. 3 additional empty
cases with data as for the above example, except
for ANIC numbers 31-075889, 31-07590, 31-075891.
1♀ with case, 25.52592°S, 148.68404°E, AUSTRALIA,
QLD, 37km NNE of Injune, E. P. Beaver & M.F. Braby
leg / ex larva on foliage (Allocasuarina luehmannii),
24 Mar 2022, eclosed 4 Sep 2022 / NA0018964463.
In QM: 2♂, 1♀ with case, 1 larva with case, 2
additional empty cases. ♂: Injune. 26.9.1938 W.B.
Barnard / T250899 / B. hyaloscopa M & L / QM
T250899. 1 Empty case: Jan 1986, 5 miles Sth
Condamine R., Chinchilla. Grace Lithgow (both in
QM). ♂ with case: Ellangowan NR, Leyburn, Qld,
AUST. 430 m elev. 27.96260°S, 151.65175°E, E.P.
Beaver & M.F. Braby / Collected 11-13 Feb 2021
as larva on foliage of Allocasuarina luehmannii.
Pupated Sep 2021, eclosed 08 Dec 2021 / Dissection
ID EPB-155’. ♀ with case: Ellangowan NR, Leyburn,
Qld, AUST. 430 m elev. 27.96260°S, 151.65175°E,
E.P. Beaver & M.F. Braby / Collected 11-13 Feb 2021
as larva on foliage of Allocasuarina luehmannii.
Pupated mid Oct 2021, eclosed 05 December 2021. /
Dissection ID EPB-153. Larva with case: Ellangowan
NR, Leyburn, Qld, AUST. 430 m elev. 27.96260°S,
151.65175°E, E.P. Beaver & M.F. Braby / Collected
11-13 Feb 2021 as larva on foliage of Allocasuarina
luehmannii / mature larva preserved 30 Oct 2021.
Empty case: Ellangowan NR, Leyburn, Qld, AUST.
430 m elev. 27.96260°S, 151.65175°E, 11-13 Feb 2021,
E.P. Beaver & M.F. Braby / Empty case on trunk of
Allocasuarina luehmannii. Empty case: 8.5 km SW
Yetman, NSW, AUST. 28.94305°S, 150.70244°E, 04
Feb 2021, E.P. Beaver & M.F. Braby / Empty case on
trunk of Allocasuarina luehmannii.
In SAMA: 1 Empty case: Wilson, 6.8.97, A. Cummings
/ Metura elongatua ? [sic].
Photographed specimen: 1 empty case, 13 Sep
2021, Lawes, 40 km E of Toowoomba, Qld, AUST.
27.55434°S, 152.33959°E iNaturalist observation
94712038.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023263
Ethan P. BEAVER
III with both anterior and posterior row of spines,
tergites I and IV-VII with only anterior row present.
Female (Fig. 2G-I): Length 40 mm. Elongate, simple,
highly sclerotised, dark rust-red, darker dorsally,
thoracic plates and head less heavily sclerotised.
Tergites with reduced rows of spines, TVII with
prominent semi-circular dorsal ridge.
Adult
Male (Fig. 1, 2M-Q, 2T, 4E-F). Wingspan 26-30 mm.
FW length 12-13 mm. HW length 7-8 mm.
Head. Rounded, eyes smaller than head capsule,
wide-set, eye index ratio 1.6. Labial palps with single
palpomere, narrow, triangular. Scales over frons
and vertex range from light cream-grey through to
black. Scape and pedicel subequal, flattened ovoid.
Antennae black, bipectinate, apical flagellomere
filiform. Rami 4-5x length of flagellum width in
middle, heavily ciliated. Dorsal flagellum covered
with pale cream scales.
Thorax dorsally and ventrally clothed with dark
grey to charcoal scales, some specimens with cream
scales over patagium and anterior tegula. Thoracic
scutes deep rust-red to black beneath scales.
Legs (Fig. 2T). Short, clothed with dark brown to
charcoal-black scales. Epiphysis elongate, very
narrow, 2/3 the length of tibia. Single tibial spur
distally on mid and hind legs. Aerolium reduced,
ovoid. Two tarsal claws, curved.
Wings. Forewing elongate, narrow, triangular with
blunt apex. Costa straight to very subtly concave
at middle of discal cell. Margin convex, termen
straight. Dense layer of charcoal to black scales,
from piliform to short flattened along costa, basal
area, basal 2/3rds of termen, wing fringe, elsewhere
hyaline. Newly eclosed specimens (Fig. 1J-K, 4E-F)
with complete layer of deciduous scales over wing
surface, shed after eclosion. Veins light brown.
R3+R4 stalked, Three M veins, M2+M3 stalked,
two M veins in closed discal cell, free distally. CuP
merged with A1 but not forming cell in basal area.
Hindwing. Costa convex, margin slightly sinuate,
termen blunt at apex, straight at inner margin. Dense
layer of charcoal to black scales along costa, inner
basal area and along termen, wing fringe, elsewhere
Description of stages
Late instar larva (Fig. 2A-C, 4C-D)
Length 28-45 mm, width at head capsule 4.5-5
mm. Head hypognathous, mostly matte black with
irregular and individually highly variable pale cream
markings. Antennae white basally. Ecdysial line light
cream. Thorax smooth, lustrous, heavily sclerotised
prothoracic shield. Prothorax with rust-coloured
spiracle. Pro-, meso- and metathorax with irregular
and variable pale cream markings arranged loosely
into three dorsal columns. Central column straight,
positioned medially, lateral columns slanted at acute
angle. Legs three segmented with single tarsal claw,
profemora pale cream dorsally. Abdomen less heavily
sclerotised, dorsal aspect matte black, leathery,
ventrally dark brown. Segments 1-2 with five pale
cream ovoid to trapezoidal spots latero-ventrally
along medial line. Segment 8 with two light cream-
coloured spots laterally, segment 10 with cream spot
laterally. Segments 1-8 with rust-coloured spiracle
laterally. Uniordinal lateral penellipse of crochets
on four pairs of ventral prolegs and a single pair of
anal prolegs.
Case (Fig. 3)
Anterior to posterior aperture: 59-100 mm, width
7-13 mm. Female length 75-100 mm, males 59-69
mm. All cases with between one to four stems from
hostplant as case adornment, stems 3-5 mm wide
by 6-95 mm long, anchored from median of case, to
posterior aperture, usually extending freely beyond
posterior aperture. Remainder of bag with light grey
silk covered in entirety with minute fragments of bark
from hostplant, tightly packed together obscuring
silk under-layer. Overall light khaki brown to light
charcoal colour. Case is solid and structurally sound,
similar to that of larger Lomera or Clania Walker,
1855, and not flaccid or bag-like as in Hyalarcta
Meyrick & Lower, 1907 or Metura Walker, 1855.
Pupa
Male (Fig. 2D-F): Length 17 mm. Highly sclerotised,
tan to matte black, wing-covers lustrous black. Frons
with apical spine bifurcate to two nodes. Labial
palps triangular. Maxilla inverse heart-shaped. Eye-
piece semi-transparent. First pair of legs corrugated,
others smooth. Dorsal abdomen with tergites II and
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023 264
Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae
Figure 1. Adult male Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) dorsal view, ventral, and data labels, A-C, holotype,
D-F, specimen in QM from Injune, Qld., photos © Geo Thompson, G-H, reared specimen in ANIC, J-L, reared specimen in
EPBC. Scale bar 10 mm.
hyaline. Scale type in termen piliform. Deciduous
scales over wing surface, shed after eclosion. Veins
light brown, Sc and R1 merged medially, three M veins
present, M2+M3 sometimes arising from same point
on discal cell, discal cell with two M veins merged
medially. CuP atrophied, three A veins present
[Note: HT with aberrant venation left hindwing Sc
and R free, M1 not reaching margin, with discal cell
open, M2 forked].
Pregenitalia abdomen. Clothed with dark grey to
charcoal/black scales, intersegmental membrane
transparent. Sternites and tergites (Fig. 2Q) deep
rust-red to dark brown. Tergite II rectangular, TIII-
TVI trapezoidal with posterior margin becoming
concave, TVII and TVIII with anterior margins slightly
convex and posterior margin deeply concave,
essentially bifurcate. All tergites with anterior lateral
corners fine, elongate, becoming gradually longer on
TIV-TVIII. Sternites II to SVII all roughly square with
convex posterior margin in SIII-SVI and SVIII, anterior
lateral corners narrow, elongate, increasing in length
proportionally as general sternite size decreases,
SVIII with anterior lateral corners modified to paired
anterior apophyses, with apexes truncate, lateral
sides of sternite slightly concave.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023265
Ethan P. BEAVER
Figure 2. Bathromelas hyaloscopa A-C, larva, D-F, male pupa, G-I, female pupa, J-L, female, M-P, male genitalia EPB-155,
Q, male abdomen tergites and sternites, R, female genitalia EPB-154, S, female head and thorax, cleared, T, male legs.
Scale bars A-L 10 mm, M-P, R-T 1 mm, Q 2 mm.. Abbreviations are as follows: aa – apophyses anteriores, ap – apophyses
posteriores, dr – dorsal ridge, ey – eye, fe – femur, lg – leg, ma – membranous area of uncus, SII-SVIII – sternite two to
sternite eight, ta – tarsus, tg – tegumen, th – thoracic hump, ti – tibia, TI-TVIII – tergite one to tergite eight, un – uncus,
va – valva, vi – vinculum.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023 266
Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae
Male genitalia (Fig. 2M-P). Saccus weakly sclerotised,
sub-triangular, posterior finger-like, elongate.
Vinculum narrow, more heavily sclerotised medially
and towards tegumen, lateral edges medially
convex. Tegumen positioned at approximate middle
of genitalia, broadest at outer margin, fused with
uncus. Uncus broadly triangular, postero-lateral
corners acute, posterior apex bifurcate, concave
when viewed laterally, setose on dorsal aspect,
membranous area present medially below apical
bifurcation. ‘Transitellar arms’ sclerotised, short,
linear. Valvae elongate, apexes bifurcate to two lobes,
ventral lobe hooked, short spines at apex, with node
on lateral edge, inner dorsal margin setose, dorsal
lobe triangular with blunt apex, setose. Sacculus
narrow, sinuate. Aedeagus elongate, approximately
straight, ductus ejaculatorius and vesica smooth,
pronounced asymmetrical ovoid at apex.
Female (Fig. 2J-L, 2R-S). Length 35-40 mm, elongate
and narrow.
Head. Weakly sclerotised, hypognathous, bulbous,
with rounded patch of sclerotisation at frons and
above eye, eye present, tentorial pits present,
antennae simple, single filiform antennomere, scape
and pedicel appressed ovoid. Thorax. Dorsally
highly sclerotised, dark brown, laterally and ventrally
membranous, transparent. Wingless. Mesoscutum
modified with pronounced thoracic hump above
head and patagium. Lateral spine-like process
present on thorax. Legs present, highly atrophied,
weakly sclerotised dorsally and ventrally, two
segmented with single apical hook on final segment.
Pregenitalia abdomen membranous, transparent,
in life with cream-yellow colouration of underlying
tissue and eggs. Corethrogyne extensive, dense
layer of iridescent golden scales covering TVII and
SVII, with ring of scales around SVI and TVI, and the
remaining sternites V to SIII all with medial patch
of scales.
Female genitalia (Fig. 2R). Apophyses anteriores
reduced, simple, weakly sclerotised arising from
sclerotised sternite, SVII setose. Apophyses
posteriores moderately long, segment VIII
sclerotised. Antrum subtriangular, smooth.
Corpus bursae rounded [damaged in dissection],
diverticulum narrow. Ductus bursae short, narrow.
Ovipositor short, simple.
Diagnosis
The main diagnostic morphological features
compared with other Australian Psychidae are
seven characters in the male, (mainly of wing vein
morphology, and aspects of male genitalia and
tergites) and additionally four characteristics of
female adult and pupal morphology. In the male
the forewing R5 is stalked from a point at discal
cell with R3 + R4, hindwing with two M veins, three
A veins, legs with basal tarsomere half-length of
total tarsus, abdomen tergites TVII and TVIII have
the posterior margin bifurcate with deep medial
invagination, uncus apex bifurcate and with distinct
central membranous area. Female with bulbous
head, thoracic hump present, corethrogyne scales
extensive and distributed beyond SVII, pupa with
prominent dorsal ridge on TVII. The larval case is
also distinctive by way of the tight-packed bark
fragments with 1-4 twigs attached parallel from
middle to close to posterior aperture.
Figure 3. Larval cases of Bathromelas hyaloscopa.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023267
Ethan P. BEAVER
LIFE HISTORY INFORMATION
Hostplant
The larval hostplant is the foliage of the Buloke
Allocasuarina luehmannii (Casuarinaceae), a dry
woodland tree to 15 m widespread in eastern
Australia. All specimens were collected from within
the known range of this tree except for the South
Australian larval case specimen. However, two
other Allocasuarina are widespread in this region of
South Australia – A. verticillata and A. muelleriana,
both of which may form small trees. In captivity,
larval specimens accepted Casuarina glauca, also
Casuarinaceae; however, larvae would not accept
foliage from any other plant family oered, such
as Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Rosaceae, or Santalaceae.
This species is expected to be a Casuarinaceae
specialist, and the common name ‘buloke bagworm’
is suggested to reflect this. Host specificity to this
degree is unusual in the Oiketicinae, which are
typically broadly polyphagous.
Habitat and ecology
The habitat at the collection sites near Leyburn, Qld,
Dthinna Dthinnawan NP, and near Yetman, NSW is
largely similar; a dense dry Allocasuarina luehmannii
and Callitris woodland with occasional Eucalyptus
and Corymbia trees scattered throughout (Fig.
4A-B), receiving 350-600 mm of rainfall annually.
The most abundant trees in these regions were
A. luehmannii and Callitris, and larvae or empty
cases were only located on A. luehmannii. A similar
environment exists at Injune, Qld; however, the
environments in western Victoria and in the Flinders
Ranges are structurally dierent, and specific
collection localities or habitats are unrecorded for
this species within this south-western aspect of
their known range.
Larvae were observed on both saplings and mature
trees, generally on outer foliage around 1.3-2 m
height. Larvae rest in dense foliage when inactive,
and when feeding they travel along a casuarina
needle to the distal apex, then feed backwards
Figure 4. Habitat and live habitus of B. hyaloscopa. Habitat at A, Leyburn, Qld, B, Bendidee SF, Qld, C-D, live larva, E, newly
eclosed male expanding wings and F, at rest, G, empty pupal cases on host tree at Bendidee SF.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023 268
Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae
from this section. Larval duration is a minimum of
two years. Larvae were late instars when collected
in February or March, and pupation did not occur
until September of the collection year, where only
minor increase in overall length was observed over
this duration. Pupae were always aixed to the main
trunk or lower branches, or wedged in crevasses
within the bark (Fig. 4G). Adult flight time and female
eclosion is September through to early December.
Males emerge in the mid afternoon at 15:45 hr, and
attempt to fly immediately in captivity, suggesting
that the species is diurnal. This may explain why
no specimens are confirmed as to have been
taken to light at night. As with other clear winged
Oiketicinae where known, the adult males eclose
with a complete set of deciduous scales across the
entire wing surface area. These scales are shed as
the insect vibrates the body and wings to heat itself
before flight. One specimen (Figs 1J-L, 4E-F) was
preserved before this heating process or flight could
take place, in order to illustrate this feature, though
some scale loss is apparent between eclosion and
preservation. The basal areas of the wings are more
heavily scaled with more strongly anchored scales.
The eclosion of adult females was determined by the
sudden appearance of a tuft of cast golden-coloured
corethrogyne scales lodged in the posterior aperture
of the larval case. When this was detected, the case
was carefully slit open, and the female removed
and preserved. Under natural conditions, the adult
female will remain partially within her pupal exuvia
with only the head and thorax exposed, positioned
‘head down’ at the posterior aperture of the case.
Figure 5. Distribution map of B. hyaloscopa with published records as white circles (as approximate from Meyrick & Lower,
1907 and Turner, 1947) and cross-hatched circles for new records referred to in this text.
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature | 64 | 2023269
Ethan P. BEAVER
The posterior aperture is opened by use of her
reduced but articulated legs, which also are used
to push the corethrogyne scales out of the case.
The females are not adapted for survival outside of
the case. This behaviour is standard for oiketicine
psychids where females are known. Egg laying was
not observed but it is suspected to take place within
the empty pupal shell of the female, as old empty
pupae are often found filled with corethrogyne
scales and eggshell fragments freely within this
matrix. Empty cases appear to remain within the
environment for a substantial period of time,
possibly several years before breaking down or
falling from the host tree. Some empty cases were
found with infauna such as Arachnida: Clubionidae,
Sparassidae, Insecta: various Blattodea, Coleoptera,
Grylloidea, etc which utilised the cases for shelter
and in some examples as food.
Parasitoids
Approximately 50 Brachymeria Westwood, 1829,
Chalcididae (det. E.P. Fagan-Jeries) were reared
from one case all from a single female pupa. The
adult wasps were unable to exit the case for
unknown reasons, and the majority were deceased
upon opening the bag on the 14th of September
2021. One additional case was located with two
small circular holes approximating the diameter of
these same Brachymeria.
Distribution
Bathromelas is known to occur in scattered localities
across the dry wooded areas of eastern Australia
(Fig. 5), in south-eastern Queensland from Injune,
Leyburn, 8 km south of Chinchilla, 40 km east of
Toowoomba, Bendidee SF (Fig. 4G), from northern
New South Wales at 8 km SW of Yetman, the nearby
Dthinna Dthinnawan NP, as well the single holotype
specimen from ‘north-west Victoria’, and a larval
case from Wilson, near Kanyaka, South Australia.
All of these localities are situated on or west of the
Great Dividing Range. Some 1,100 km separates the
Victorian specimen from those in NSW. However,
this species is expected to be more widespread in
inland eastern Australia in scattered localities where
landscape-level areas of undisturbed old-growth
stands of the hostplants still persist.
DISCUSSION
In their original description of Plutorectis
hyaloscopa, Meyrick & Lower (1907) refer to a
single male type specimen, which is in SAM (Fig.
1A-C, SAMA Database no. 31-000282), and provide
a brief external description; however, they did not
describe wing venation or genitalia. They state
that the specimen is from ‘North-west Victoria.
One specimen; beaten from Casuarina sp. in
November.’ (Meyrick & Lower 1907 pp. 203-4). From
this statement, it is unclear if an adult or larval
specimen was collected, and although it is usually
Lepidoptera larvae that are collected in this manner,
the specimen in question was probably an adult at
rest as they clearly state that the case and larva is
unknown to them, and there is no associated larval
case in the SAM collection. The holotype is labelled
slightly dierently to that listed in Meyrick &
Lower, and includes the statement ‘from Casuarina
suberosa’ which is now Allocasuarina littoralis
(Salisb.) L.A.S. Johnson. Curiously, this tree species
does not occur in north-west Victoria (Australian
Virtual Herbarium, 2022), so it is possible this listing
is a misidentification. This, coupled with the vague
terminology in Meyrick & Lower (1907), makes the
application of this species name as a host record
doubtful, and that it was instead collected at rest on
a dierent Casuarina or Allocasuarina species.
Turner in his generic description refers to two
specimens, one from Injune, Queensland, and
a further specimen from Wimmera, Victoria.
No specimen is known with a label that states
‘Wimmera’; however, this is a broad geographic
locality in western Victoria, so it is possible that this
refers to the holotype specimen. Problematically,
he lists a measurement of 32 mm, dierent from
the 30 mm listed in Meyrick & Lower for the
holotype in SAM. The Injune specimen (Fig. 1D-
F) in the QM collection is a worn specimen, where
any measurement of wingspan would be an
estimate. A further Injune specimen is in ANIC, it
is unset, heavily worm, and damaged by verdigris.
In Turner’s description (Turner 1947, p. 62) he also
states ‘antennae pectinate to apex’ which is further
problematic as the type specimen only has a single
antenna, broken to about half, while additionally
the antennae of the Injune specimen (and the
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Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae
others examined) are actually bipectinate without
pectination on the final apical antennomere. He also
goes on to state ‘Forewings with 4 and 5 stalked, 7,
8, 9 stalked, median vein in cell forked. Hindwings
with 4 and 5 approximated throughout, 6 and 7
remote, median vein in cell forked.’ In the Comstock
and Needham system, this is the same as ‘M2 and
M3 stalked, R3, R4 and R5 stalked’ for the forewing,
and ‘M1 and M2 approximated, R and Sc separate’. It
is unclear what the use of the term ‘approximated’
refers to. It is unclear if Turner ever saw the holotype
in SAM, or if his description for the genus was based
on his Injune specimen. The holotype is an aberrant
specimen which has dierent wing venation in the
left hindwing compared with the right; however, this
is neglected in both Meyrick & Lower’s and Turner’s
descriptions. The right hindwing is ‘typical’ in that
Sc is merged with R medially, the discal cell is closed,
with three M veins both reaching wing margin;
however, the left hindwing has Sc and R free, M1
not reaching margin, with discal cell open, and M2 is
forked. The QM Injune specimen, as well as the three
reared males, all have typical venation as described.
Presently, no modern molecular or integrated
phylogeny exists for Australian Psychidae, and the
relationships both between and within genera (many
of which are weakly diagnosed) of Oiketicinae are not
well established. It is beyond the scope of this study
to place Bathromelas within a phylogeny; however,
some important characteristics have been identified
in the male and are detailed here in comparison with
other predominately Australian genera. Bathromelas
shares several characteristics with Lomera; the male
genitalia are broadly similar, and both taxa have the
first tarsomere elongate, i.e. it comprises ½ total
tarsus length, while in other genera such as Metura,
Clania, and Pseudoclania Bethune-Baker, 1915 this
is less than ½, with the last two genera having the
apical tarsomere longest. Although no Lomera are
known to have truly hyaline wings, hyalinality is not
a generic-level characteristic, with some typically
scaled genera (i.e. Clania, Amatissa Walker, 1862)
containing species with partial or fully hyaline
wings. Both Bathromelas and Hyalarcta have clear
wings, and may resemble each other at a superficial
level, but the wing venation, and wing shape, is
not similar, with the hindwing of Hyalarcta greatly
reduced, round, and with only a single M vein.
Bathromelas and Lomera dier in wing venation,
with Lomera having two A veins in the hindwing,
unlike Bathromelas which has three. Additionally, R5
in the forewing arises from the discal cell in Lomera
but it is stalked with R3 and R4 in Bathromelas.
These characteristics are included with caution, as
Lomera is a problematic and species-rich genus
in need of revision, and the characters listed here
have only been corroborated for a small number of
Lomera species. Lomera may eventually be shown
to be polyphyletic. The wing shape of Bathromelas
is distinctly triangular. Many genera exhibit this
feature (i.e. Clania, Pseudoclania, see Beaver 2021),
with it being a uniform characteristic across all
species within. However, and unusually, Lomera, a
genus with an otherwise predominately rounded
forewing apex, has two described species with the
triangular forewing shape, L. melanodes (Meyrick &
Lower, 1907), and L. zophopepla (Meyrick & Lower,
1907). The antennae of Bathromelas have the final
apical palpomere simple, like Oiketicus and Metura
among others, and not bipectinate like Lomera or
Pseudoclania. Males of Bathromelas unusually have
the posterior margin of TVII and TVIII essentially
bifurcate, a character not reported from other
Australian genera, though this feature is poorly
sampled across genera.
Identifying unique characteristics within female
specimens is a considerable challenge as so few
female Oiketicinae are described in detail, with
few reliably identified specimens available in
collections. Some characteristics not observed
in other Australian genera include an extensive
corethrogyne, with scaled areas on TV-VII and SIII-
VII in Bathromelas, other genera where known (i.e.
Metura, see Beaver 2020) have specialised scales
only at the corethrogyne and not elsewhere on the
abdomen. Additionally, the presence of a distinct
thoracic hump, and dorsal ridge on pupa abdomen,
may be characteristics of significance.
The larval cases of Bathromelas are structurally
unique among Australian psychid species. Some
genera such as Amatissa, Dappula Moore [1883],
Lepidoscia Meyrick, 1893 and Pseudoclania may
incorporate small bark fragments or lichens within
their case design, layered tightly on the outside
of the case in a similar manner to Bathromelas,
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Ethan P. BEAVER
though none incorporate long twigs at the anterior
aperture in the same way as Bathromelas. Genera
such as Clania and Metura may sometimes include
one or more long twigs in the case design, but in
both those genera the case will either be completely
or partially covered in stick and/or leaf fragments,
and is never layered in entirety with small bark
fragments as in Bathromelas. Although the larva is
patterned similarly to Lomera, that genus utilises
stick or grass fragments either in a layered vertical
parallel series, or attached laterally and alternating
in a whorled pattern.
Bathromelas hyaloscopa is expected to be common
within suitable environments, as both larvae and
empty cases were abundant at the collection
localities recorded. Empty cases were observed on
trees in roadside vegetation near Leyburn in March
2021 and Feb-March 2022 at a rate of approximately
one case every 40 trees. However, they are not
evenly distributed within the environment; instead,
generally small clusters (3-5 cases) are located every
few hundred metres. Empty cases (or active pupae)
are conspicuous on the bark of the main trunk or
lower branches of the host plant. Active larvae are
more diicult to spot as they live attached to growing
foliage points. The large gaps of time between
collected specimens, and dearth of specimens in
general, may be due to the majority of Psychidae
in collections being from material collected by
light trapping, which appears to be an unsuitable
collection method for this genus. By rearing field
collected larvae or pupae, more specimens were
obtained in a single year than in all of the previous
113 years combined. This highlights the importance
of larval rearing as an essential method for obtaining
material for any worker dealing with this family of
moths. Several other Australian Oiketicinae are
known to be day-flying, such as Hyalarcta and some
Metura spp. Some Elinostola species are known to
eclose around midday, and some Lomera are known
to eclose in the early morning (both pers. obs);
however, it is unclear if these genera contain truly
diurnal or crepuscular species, as others have also
been taken to light.
A larval case in the SAM collection is obscurely
labelled simply with ‘Wilson’ as the collection
locality. Although there is presently no township
by this name, this may refer to a now abandoned
area by that name in the Southern Flinders Ranges
near Kanyaka (Flinders Ranges Council 2022) which
was active around 1897 when the specimen was
collected. No further material has been collected
from South Australia (or from Victoria). However,
significant stands of Allocasuarina verticillata
remain in some areas of the Flinders, such as
Dutchmans Stern CP and at Wilpena Pound, and
discrete scattered patches across the south-east
of the state may also be suitable, particularly near
Naracoorte and Boothby Rocks. Bathromelas
was unrecorded for New South Wales prior to
this study, where it has now been collected near
Yetman and Dthinna Dthinnawan NP. The widely-
spread records across much of inland south-eastern
Australia may be indicative of a broader, patchy but
unrecorded distribution.
Of nomenclatural significance is the name Oeceticus
[sic] felinus T.P. Lucas 1900, regarded as ‘Unplaced
to genus’ by Nielsen & Edwards (1996), the written
description of which (Lucas 1900) is similar in
some aspects to this species, the approximate size
is similar, and the case was vaguely described as
‘from casuarina needles’; however, the whereabouts
of Lucas’s specimens is currently unknown, and
was not stated in his paper. He lists at least two
males, one female and her case, from ‘May Orchard’,
Brisbane, Queensland. Curiously, his observation is
described as that of male specimens attracted to a
female, but the time i.e. day or night, is not specified.
Some Lucas material is present in the SA Museum;
but unfortunately, no specimens matching the
description or labelling are present in this collection
or in QM (K. Koch pers. comm) or ANIC. The type
is treated as lost, and the name is regarded as a
nomen dubium.
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Rediscovery and life history of Bathromelas hyaloscopa (Meyrick & Lower, 1907) Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to many people for their assistance
and kind patience with several aspects of this
project, particularly to Michael Braby (ANU, ANIC)
for his assistance with fieldwork during the summer
and autumn of 2021 and 2022. Gratitude is extended
to Ben Parslow and Matt Shaw of SAMA for use of
equipment and examination of specimens; QM
sta Christine Lambkin, Geo Thompson, Susan
Wright and Karin Koch; as well as You Ning Su of
ANIC, Erinn Fagan-Jeries of UofA and SAMA for
the barcoding and identification of parasitoids, and
Brad McNeil for clarification on locality information.
I am also grateful to Kristen Messenger (Adelaide,
SA) for larval rearing while for several months I
was away on fieldwork. For discourse surrounding
this peculiar genus I am grateful to Fabian Douglas
(Rainbow, Vic), Ned Fisher (Adelaide, SA). Travel
for this project was supported with a student grant
from the Entomological Society of Queensland, and
a grant from the Australian Entomological Society.
LITERATURE CITED
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Beaver, E.P. (2021). First record of Pseudoclania Bethune-
Baker from Australia (Lepidoptera: Psychidae:
Oiketicinae). Australian Entomologist. 48(3), 207-214.
Beaver, E.P. (2020). Revision of the genus Metura
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org/10.11646/zootaxa.4861.2.2.
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Flinders Ranges Council (2022). Flinders Ranges Council
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records – Allocasuarina littoralis. Accessed
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