''Tasmantrix phalaros'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

of the family

Micropterigidae Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...

. It is known from eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, in wet, upland eucalypt forests of northern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

from Minyon Falls to Narara.Micropterigidae (Lepidoptera) of the Southwestern Pacific: a revision with the establishment of five new genera from Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand
/ref> The forewing length is 3.6 mm for males and 3.5 mm for females. The forewing ground colour has a strong purple iridescence. There are three shining white fasciae with scattered ill-defined white spots and streaks in the apical quarter. The first is a basal costal streak running from the middle of the wing to about one quarter, with a broadly rounded apex and proximally contiguous with white dorsum of head when at rest. The second is a strong, constant, transverse band across the wing at mid-length. Finally, a small, irregular white patch on the costa at three quarters. The apical quarter has scattered white scales, usually in rows, and consistently forming a series of three to four white patches between the veins along the termen. The fringes are black with white tips, but wholly white at the apex.

Etymology

The species name is derived from the Greek ''phalaros'' (meaning white patch) referring to the presence of a discrete white spot on the costa.

References

Micropterigidae Moths described in 2010 {{Micropterigidae-stub