Nearcha (genus) at Tuggeranong Hill

An Oenochromine moth at Tuggeranong Hill

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Identification history

Nearcha (genus)	12 Mar 2019	ibaird
Nearcha (genus)	12 Mar 2019	donhe
Unidentified	11 Mar 2019	Owen

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Author's notes

Suspect Nearcha ursaria due to wing patterning but wingtips unclear. WS approx 25-30mm

3 comments

donhe wrote:

12 Mar 2019

Also the pattern is more muted than N. ursaria, so I think it is more likely N. curtaria

ibaird wrote:

12 Mar 2019

I am uncertain whether the specimen is a Nearcha species. The Nearcha males have pectinate antennae which are not clearly evident here (unless there are other images) - so it would likely be a female. I am not sure the overall forewing shape is pointed enough and angular to be typical of the Nearcha images I see online. Images on the Moths Victoria supporting CDs of both N. usraria and N. curtaria range from light to darker in colouration, so I don't know whether one species is generally muted than the other. The specimen on CNM already identified as N. ursaria appears similar in colouration to this one. N. curtaria's given common name is ''Ángular Nearcha'' given, presumably, because it shows a more angular shape than other Nearcha. Moths of Victoria's images do show this angular shape for N. curtaria. Yet this specimen, to me, doesn't look very angular in shape overall. Moths of Victoria rely on overall hindwing shape, marking and fine details visible on the underside of the fore and hindwings to distinguish Nearcha species. Moths of Victoria say N. curtaria can be distinguished from N. ursaria by hindwing shape, with N. curtaria having an angular hindwing shape whereas N. ursaria is rounded. I don't think we can see enough of the hindwing in this case to be sure on that criterion. If this is a Nearcha sp. and not a Taxeotis sp. I'm not sure which one.

donhe wrote:

13 Mar 2019

I think it is not a Taxeotis species as in that genus the first line stops short of the costa, whereas in this specimen it extends all the way from hind-margin to costa.
I agree that the only sure way to distinguish N. ursaria and N. curtaria is the pattern of ridges and tufts on the undersides, so I suggest we just say it is a Nearcha species.

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