COSSIDAE of Australia
Wijuti, Witchety, or Witchetty Grubs, Goat Moths, Carpenter Moths, Wood Moths, Borers.
COSSOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 20 September 2008)

The COSSIDAE include many species with large Caterpillars and moths up to 17 cms in wingspan. Many of the Caterpillars have an unpleasant smell: hence their name Goat Moths. Most of the Caterpillars are borers in trees, hence their other names. The Witchetty (Wijuti) Grub is generally the Caterpillar of Endoxyla leucomochla.

The Caterpillars may take up to three years to mature, and pupate within their tunnels.

The moths have long narrow wings, like those of Hawk moths, and are mostly grey.

The 87 named Australian members of COSSIDAE are:

Culama dasythrix
Culama rhytiphorus

Endoxyla affinis
Endoxyla amphiplecta

Endoxyla cineraria
Endoxyla cinereus : Giant Wood Moth

Endoxyla coscinophanes
Endoxyla decoratus

Endoxyla edwardsorum
Endoxyla encalypti : Wattle Goat Moth

Endoxyla interlucens
Endoxyla leucomochla : Wijuti Grub

Endoxyla lichenea
Endoxyla lituratus : Wattle Goat Moth

Endoxyla macleayi
Endoxyla mackeri

Endoxyla turneri
Endoxyla vittata