Anestia (genus)

A tiger moth at Conder, ACT

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Anestia (genus) ibaird 7 Nov 2017
Anestia (genus) ibaird 4 Nov 2017
Unverified MichaelBedingfield 4 Nov 2017

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Conder, ACT

7 comments

   4 Nov 2017
Looks a bit similar to Anestia sp. (genus) Lithosiini.
   4 Nov 2017
This photographed specimen looks very similar, clearly a variable species. -assuming my suggested ID is correct!
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:c1b264b3-162e-4c56-b99b-8a49cd592a28#gallery
   5 Nov 2017
Definitely Anestia. There are only 2 species in Anestia: A ombrophanes and A. semiochrea. Both were described in the same year by different authors, so neither author discusses the differences between the two species.. Both are variable. How one does distinguish them I would love to know.
But anyway: both females are flightless with pink or mauve abdominal bands, so probably not a female.
   5 Nov 2017
Looking at Moths of Victoria, Part 2 , p. 24 (Peter Marriott's photo of a set specimen), I think A. ombrophanes, Clouded Footman, male is a closer fit to the wing pattern of the specimen above.
   7 Nov 2017
The wing patterns of A. semiochrea and ombrophanes appear to include light and dark forms of a very similar base pattern. Nearly all western specimens (ombrophanes at ANIC) have a light pattern, while the majority of eastern specimens (semiochrea at ANIC) have a variable dark pattern, although a significant number are light like ombrophanes. DNA sequencing may in future help sort out the difference, if any, between these two species.
   7 Nov 2017
OK, so on the balance of probabilities, A. semiochrea is more likely, but we can't really be sure. Are we happy with Anestia sp. (genus) after all?
   8 Nov 2017
Sounds good to me

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Location information

Sighting information

  • At least 1 Abundance
  • 9 Mar 2015 10:46 PM Recorded on
  • MichaelBedingfield Recorded by
  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size

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