Hepialidae sp. (family)

Unidentified Swift or Ghost Moth at Hughes, ACT

Hepialidae sp. (family) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Apr 2017
Hepialidae sp. (family) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Apr 2017
Hepialidae sp. (family) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Apr 2017
Hepialidae sp. (family) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Apr 2017
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Identification history

Hepialidae sp. (family) 21 May 2017 MichaelMulvaney
Hepialidae sp. (family) 23 Apr 2017 ibaird
Unidentified 22 Apr 2017 ruthkerruish

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User's notes

Photos show how the pupae emerge from the soil and are split open when the moth emerges. If the soil is hard and dry the pupae may not completely emerge.

5 comments

ibaird wrote:
   23 Apr 2017
I'm wondering whether you have any photos of the emerging moths, which would help in identification.
ruthkerruish wrote:
   23 Apr 2017
Unfortunately no. However I will look more closely. The pupae have been emerging regularly in masses literally every year for years and we look at them and kids want know about them, but have never actually seen moths emerging. Would they emerge at night?
ibaird wrote:
   23 Apr 2017
I can't be sure but, assuming these are discarded moth pupal cases, the images you have submitted are not inconsistent with those left by swift moths (Hepialidae). For example, Trictena sp., see images at this link
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:e1e3717f-f864-49f2-a9b1-5bf020bd6e9f#gallery
Swift moths (15 spp.) typically come to light at night on rainy nights in autumn after emerging. The pupate in the soil or wood. Trictena sp. live in the soil and feed on tree roots e.g Eucalyptus and the pupal cases are known to protrude from the tunnel in soil after the moth emerges as is shown in one of your images (Common, 1990). Therefore, I'll suggest Hepialidae possible Trictana sp, as my identification and see whether it is supported by others on CNM. With rain predicted, you might try to look out for and photograph emerging moths in the coming days and weeks.
ruthkerruish wrote:
   24 Apr 2017
I have looked up the link - I know what to look out for now - let us hope it rains soon as the bush is very dry. Thanks a lot.
ruthkerruish wrote:
   12 May 2017
If we mange to catch a moth we may be able to show that these pupal cases are left when the Rain moth (Trictena atripalpis) emerges.. The caterpillars that live in the soil and feed on tree roots are often called Bardee grubs

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 3 - image sightings only

Marchantia polymorpha (Common liverwort) at Hughes, ACT - 5 Feb 2024 by ruthkerruish
Podargus strigoides (Tawny Frogmouth) at GG105 - 18 Jan 2024 by ruthkerruish
Amycterus sp. (genus) (Ground weevil) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Jun 2023 by Tapirlord
Chelepteryx collesi (White-stemmed Gum Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 10 May 2023 by ruthkerruish
Eumeninae (subfamily) (Unidentified Potter wasp) at Hughes, ACT - 28 Apr 2023 by ruthkerruish
Oxalis thompsoniae (Fluffy-fruit Wood-sorrel) at Hughes, ACT - 4 Mar 2023 by Tapirlord
Austrostipa bigeniculata (Kneed Speargrass) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Nov 2022 by Tapirlord
Glycine tabacina (Variable Glycine) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Nov 2022 by Tapirlord
Geranium retrorsum (Grassland Cranesbill) at Hughes, ACT - 19 Sep 2022 by Tapirlord
Rytidosperma sp. (Wallaby Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 1 Aug 2022 by Tapirlord
Paropsisterna octosignata (Eucalyptus leaf beetle) at Hughes, ACT - 19 Jul 2022 by ruthkerruish
zz agaric (stem; gills not white/cream) at Hughes, ACT - 30 Jun 2022 by ruthkerruish
Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Apr 2022 by Tapirlord
Rytidosperma sp. (Wallaby Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Mar 2022 by ruthkerruish
Chlorophyllum sp. at Hughes, ACT - 17 Mar 2022 by ruthkerruish
Agaricus sp. (Agaricus) at Hughes, ACT - 17 Mar 2022 by ruthkerruish
Poa labillardierei (Common Tussock Grass, River Tussock Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 7 Mar 2022 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) at Hughes, ACT - 7 Mar 2022 by ruthkerruish
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Hughes, ACT - 6 Mar 2022 by ruthkerruish
Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) at Hughes, ACT - 28 Feb 2022 by Tapirlord
Mycena sp. (Mycena) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Jan 2022 by ruthkerruish
Archimantis latistyla (Stick Mantis, Large Brown Mantis) at Hughes, ACT - 9 Jan 2022 by ruthkerruish
Crepis capillaris (Smooth Hawksbeard) at Hughes, ACT - 7 Jan 2022 by ruthkerruish
Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Dec 2021 by ruthkerruish
Bovista (A puffball) at Hughes, ACT - 27 Dec 2021 by ruthkerruish
Triadica sebifera (Chinese Tallow Tree) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Dec 2021 by ruthkerruish
Euphorbia characias (Mediterranean Spurge) at Hughes, ACT - 24 Nov 2021 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) at Hughes, ACT - 18 Nov 2021 by MichaelMulvaney
Chlorophyllum sp. at Hughes, ACT - 17 Nov 2021 by ruthkerruish
Rhinotia sp. in semipunctata group (A belid weevil) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Nov 2021 by Tapirlord
Bromus catharticus (Prairie Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Oct 2021 by ruthkerruish
Westringia sp. at Hughes, ACT - 21 Oct 2021 by ruthkerruish
Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Oct 2021 by ruthkerruish
Chrysocephalum semipapposum (Clustered Everlasting) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Oct 2021 by ruthkerruish
Ardices canescens (Dark-spotted Tiger Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Oct 2021 by ruthkerruish
Austrostipa scabra (Corkscrew Grass, Slender Speargrass) at Hughes, ACT - 5 Oct 2021 by ruthkerruish
Calothamnus quadrifidus (One-sided Bottlebrush) at Hughes, ACT - 25 Sep 2021 by ruthkerruish
Hordeum leporinum (Barley Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 24 Sep 2021 by Tapirlord
Einadia hastata (Berry Saltbush) at Hughes, ACT - 24 Sep 2021 by Tapirlord
Podargus strigoides (Tawny Frogmouth) at Hughes, ACT - 21 Aug 2021 by ruthkerruish
Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) at Hughes, ACT - 9 Aug 2021 by ruthkerruish
Christinus marmoratus (Southern Marbled Gecko) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Aug 2021 by Tapirlord
Lychas marmoreus (Little Marbled Scorpion) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Aug 2021 by Tapirlord
Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Aug 2021 by Tapirlord
Senecio bathurstianus (Rough Fireweed) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Aug 2021 by Tapirlord
Scymnodes sp. (genus) (Unidentified Scymnodes ladybird) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Jul 2021 by Tapirlord
Senecio bathurstianus (Rough Fireweed) at Hughes, ACT - 10 Jul 2021 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus leucoxylon (Yellow Gum) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Jun 2021 by Tapirlord
Eucalyptus leucoxylon (Yellow Gum) at Hughes, ACT - 8 May 2021 by Tapirlord
Glycaspis sp. (genus) (Unidentified sugary lerp) at Hughes, ACT - 8 May 2021 by Tapirlord
Xanthium spinosum (Bathurst Burr) at Hughes, ACT - 2 Apr 2021 by Tapirlord
Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Hughes, ACT - 2 Mar 2021 by ruthkerruish
Tricoryne elatior (Yellow Rush Lily) at Hughes, ACT - 23 Feb 2021 by ruthkerruish
Mallada sp. (genus) (Green lacewing) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Feb 2021 by ruthkerruish
Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Hughes, ACT - 8 Feb 2021 by ruthkerruish
Culicidae (family) (A mosquito) at Hughes, ACT - 7 Feb 2021 by ruthkerruish
Xanthium spinosum (Bathurst Burr) at Hughes, ACT - 6 Feb 2021 by Tapirlord
Pentatomidae (family) (Shield or Stink bug) at Hughes, ACT - 30 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Cyathus sp. (A Bird's Nest Fungus) at Hughes, ACT - 27 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Perginae sp. (subfamily) (Unidentified pergine sawfly) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus bridgesiana (Apple Box) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Archimantis sp. (genus) (Large Brown Mantis) at Hughes, ACT - 1 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Dec 2020 by ruthkerruish
Carthamus lanatus (Saffron Thistle) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Dec 2020 by ruthkerruish
Delena cancerides (Social huntsman spider) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Dec 2020 by ruthkerruish
Oedaleus australis (Australian Oedaleus) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Dec 2020 by Tapirlord
Dictyotus conspicuus (A shield or stink bug) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Dec 2020 by Tapirlord
Camponotus sp. (genus) (A sugar ant) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Dec 2020 by Tapirlord
Eucalyptus bridgesiana (Apple Box) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Dec 2020 by ruthkerruish
Nandina domestica (Sacred Bamboo) at Hughes, ACT - 10 Dec 2020 by Tapirlord
Eriococcus coriaceus (Gumtree Scale) at Hughes, ACT - 7 Dec 2020 by ruthkerruish
Rytidosperma sp. (Wallaby Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 4 Dec 2020 by ruthkerruish
Glycine tabacina (Variable Glycine) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Nov 2020 by Tapirlord
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Nov 2020 by Tapirlord
Miturgidae (family) (False wolf spider) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Nov 2020 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) at Hughes, ACT - 21 Nov 2020 by ruthkerruish
Poecilasthena thalassias (Sea-blue Delicate) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Nov 2020 by ruthkerruish
Cacatua sanguinea (Little Corella) at Hughes, ACT - 24 Oct 2020 by ruthkerruish
Rytidosperma sp. (Wallaby Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 19 Oct 2020 by ruthkerruish
Bolbitiaceae at Hughes, ACT - 16 Oct 2020 by ruthkerruish
Christinus marmoratus (Southern Marbled Gecko) at Hughes, ACT - 6 Oct 2020 by ruthkerruish
Melolonthinae sp. (subfamily) (Cockchafer) at Hughes, ACT - 5 Oct 2020 by ruthkerruish
Cryptes baccatus (Wattle Tick Scale) at Hughes, ACT - 24 Sep 2020 by ruthkerruish
Rytidosperma sp. (Wallaby Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Sep 2020 by ruthkerruish
Melangyna viridiceps (Hover fly) at Hughes, ACT - 28 Aug 2020 by ruthkerruish
Erodium crinitum (Native Crowfoot) at Hughes, ACT - 21 Aug 2020 by ruthkerruish
Zanda funerea (Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo) at Hughes, ACT - 27 Jul 2020 by ruthkerruish
Cacatua sanguinea (Little Corella) at Hughes, ACT - 6 Jun 2020 by ruthkerruish
Tortricinae (subfamily) (A tortrix moth) at Hughes, ACT - 6 Jun 2020 by ruthkerruish
Oudemansiella 'radicata group' (Rooting shank) at Hughes, ACT - 24 May 2020 by ruthkerruish
Solanum nigrum (Black Nightshade) at Hughes, ACT - 18 May 2020 by ruthkerruish
Paronychia brasiliana (Brazilian Whitlow) at Hughes, ACT - 30 Apr 2020 by ruthkerruish
Einadia nutans (Climbing Saltbush) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Apr 2020 by ruthkerruish
Agaricus sp. (Agaricus) at Hughes, ACT - 4 Apr 2020 by ruthkerruish
Belenois java (Caper White) at Hughes, ACT - 1 Apr 2020 by ruthkerruish
Pataeta carbo (Dark Euteliid) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Mar 2020 by ruthkerruish
Australiosomatinae sp. (subfamily) (Millipede) at Hughes, ACT - 16 Mar 2020 by ruthkerruish
Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 9 Mar 2020 by ruthkerruish

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 16 - 100 Abundance
  • 22 Apr 2017 12:00 AM Recorded on
  • ruthkerruish Recorded by

Additional information

  • Eucalypts Associated plant
  • 50mm or larger Animal size
  • Burrow Breeding behaviour

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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