Mnesteria pharetrata is a moth in the Lecithoceridae family. It was described by Meyrick in 1905. It is found in Sri Lanka. The wingspan is 20-21 mm. The forewings are orange, lighter and more ochreous-tinged towards the costa and with shining silvery-bronze markings. There is a spot on the base of the costa and a line along the submedian fold from rather near the base to beyond the middle of the wing, as well as a longitudinal discal line from beyond one-third to three-fifths, dilated at the extremities, and a longitudinal spot above its posterior extremity. There are six streaks on the veins starting from beyond three-fifths, and running to the posterior part of the costa and termen. The hindwings are light yellowish-fuscous in males and grey in females.