Hygraula nitens, (Butler, 1880)
Distribution: most of Australia, including Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Moth sightings here: September – April.
The wingspan is about 25 mm.
Larval foodplant
Surprisingly, the larvae live underwater, in stagnant fresh water inland and in brackish estuaries on the coast. They possibly feed in our small rainforest pond or in the local creeks. They have gills in the form of filaments protruding from the body for breathing underwater. They feed on underwater plants and build a portable protective case of pieces of plants to live in.
They pupate underwater and when the moth hatches, despite not having gills, it has to swim to the surface to fly away. It also lays its eggs underwater somehow swimming to the bottom of the pond or creek.
