Anestia (genus)

A tiger moth at Conder, ACT

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Identification history

Anestia (genus)	7 Nov 2017	ibaird
Anestia (genus)	4 Nov 2017	ibaird
Unidentified	4 Nov 2017	michaelb

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Conder, ACT

7 comments

ibaird wrote:

4 Nov 2017

Looks a bit similar to Anestia sp. (genus) Lithosiini.

ibaird wrote:

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

donhe wrote:

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.

ibaird wrote:

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.

GlennCocking wrote:

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.

ibaird wrote:

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?

GlennCocking wrote:

8 Nov 2017

Sounds good to me

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