Meyrick originally described this genus as follows:
Head with loosely-appressed hairs ; no ocelli ; no tongue. Antennae 3⁄4 in male with joints elongate, strongly biciliated with fascicles (2+1⁄2-4), basal joint stout, loosely scaled, with small pecten. Labial palpi moderate or short, drooping, second joint loosely rough-scaled, with two or three apical bristles, terminal joint tolerably pointed. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Posterior tibiae with tolerably-appressed scales. Forewings with vein 1 furcate, 2 from near angle, 6 sometimes absent (microphanes), 7 and 8 stalked, 7 to hindmargin, 11 from before middle, secondary cell tolerably defined. Hindwings somewhat narrower than forewings, elongate-ovate : cilia 2⁄3-1+1⁄2; veins 6 and 7 parallel, 6 sometimes absent (microphanes).[3]
Behaviour
Winged females of Mallobathra species are reluctant to fly with some being semi-apterous.[4] They drop to the ground when disturbed.[4] The males are active flyers.[4]
Habitat and hosts
Species in this genus can be found from sea level to the alpine zones, and have a wide tolerance of sites and climate.[4] Some species in this genus are common in forest or scrub, with trunk-frequenting or litter-living larvae, while others are found on lichen covered cliffs.[4] The larva of the only member of the genus known from the subantarctic, Mallobathra campbellica, is a litter-dwelling species.[4]
