The diminutive Mathildana newmanella moth is approximately .50 inch long. The wings are long, narrow and flared at the ends. The forewing is black with 2 orange streaks along the sides that run together. The hindwing is paler brown with a broad fringe. The antennae are long and black with white at the ends. This moth was identified by a volunteer expert at the BugGuide website.
The frequency of occurrence in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known. It has been photographed in Fontenelle Forest in Child’s Hollow in early May, 2012. Adults will come to artificial lights.
The larva feeds in a web under the bark of standing dead trees such as apple trees and are thought to eat fungi. This moth may be an Ichneumon wasp mimic. The black and white antennae and its habit of constantly waving the antennae in front of them are characteristics of some Ichneumons.
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