Ectropis (genus)
2 An engrailed moth at Hughes, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Ectropis (genus) | ibaird | 17 May 2019 | |
| Ectropis (genus) | donhe | 17 May 2019 | |
| Geometridae (family) IMMATURE | donhe | 17 Mar 2019 | |
| Unverified | JackyF | 17 Mar 2019 |
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User's notes
As requested, I raised the caterpillar indoors. Here are photos of the resulting moth and empty pupal case. Caterpillar was about 7mm when it pupated, moth less than 25 mm wingspan. Original caterpillar photo was 17 March.
8 comments
18 Mar 2019
Can you take it into protective custody, rear it to get a moth, then take the moth back and release it where it came from (taking a photo of the moth first)?
18 Mar 2019
Ok. Still no luck getting the tower case moth caterpillar to stick its head out. It is right next to a track.
18 Mar 2019
Not many Geometrids recorded on Rutaceae before. Very interesting.
Your tower caterpillar may have died, pupated, or emerged long ago.
Was it not there before? Has it since moved from its original spot?
Your tower caterpillar may have died, pupated, or emerged long ago.
Was it not there before? Has it since moved from its original spot?
18 Mar 2019
Don I am sorry, it may have been there previously. I only noticed it two days ago. I don't think it has moved, so case may be empty. Will keep checking. Re the looper, I had a brown one just like it on a pelargonium last year, sighting on Canberra Nature Map for unidentified Geometer moth. Thanks Jacky
16 May 2019
Don I have raised the small brown looper caterpillar from the lemon tree as requested, please see new photos of resulting moth and pupal case.
17 May 2019
Excellent.
If we could see a bit more of the hindwing, we could decide between E. exxcursaria and E. bispinaria.
If we could see a bit more of the hindwing, we could decide between E. exxcursaria and E. bispinaria.
17 May 2019
Don sorry that was the clearest photo I could get, but I have added an enlarged copy. Cheers Jacky
19 May 2019
The most obvious difference between E. excursaria and E. bispinaria is the shape of the black hindwing submarginal line where it meets the costa, which junction is obscured by the forewing in your photo.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.098124-35.329147
- Places Hughes, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 6 May 2019 01:05 PM Recorded on
- JackyF Recorded by
- lemon Associated plant
- 12mm to 25mm Animal size
Collections
- JackyF Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Ectropis (genus) Geometer moths (Geometridae) Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects
Species information
- Ectropis (genus) Scientific name
- An engrailed moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 819.15m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
6 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Description
- Additional attributes
- GPS evidence of location