Melanodes anthracitaria
Black Geometrid at Wamboin, NSW
Identify this sighting
| Melanodes anthracitaria | GlennCocking | 14 Mar 2020 | |
| Melanodes anthracitaria | ibaird | 14 Mar 2020 | |
| Praxis aterrima | GlennCocking | 14 Mar 2020 | |
| Hypobapta diffundens | donhe | 6 Jan 2020 | |
| Unverified | natureguy | 6 Jan 2020 |
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User's notes
Seemed somewhat deformed and appeared to not be able to fly.
7 comments
14 Mar 2020
I don’t think this is Pataeta carbo or P. conspicienda. If it was, photos 1 and 3 should show some shining white if Pataeta; the prominent black line isn’t quite right for Pataeta; the shape of tip of the abdomen doesn’t fit Euteliinae well; and there aren’t enough brown scales on the wing for Pataeta. The best match I can find is Praxis aterrima. The disadvantage of this is that this species has white streaks on its hindwing, although they are mainly basal and variable and there is much less white than for Pataeta. I’m assuming the white streaks are hidden in the photos by the forewing and the folds in the hindwing. The record isn’t Neumichtis nigerrima or a Hypobapta species.
15 Mar 2020
While I agree for the most part the abdomen shape and wing markings do not seem to match P. carbo closely , I also find it hard to be convinced its Praxis aterrima. There is whitish mottling which seems to match P. aterrima, but while it seems the orange spots P. aterrima has in some specimen online may perhaps be present in a very reduced form, they do not seem to be in the right place. The prominent black wavy line is precise and not as diffuse as i see in P. aterrima examples online. Also, all three images, especially the second image, show a prominent black streak on the forewing terminating at its tip, which specimens of P. alterimma online lack- unless that apparent line is temporary as the wings expand, dry and harden.
15 Mar 2020
Given my comments above I now think this likely to be Melanodes anthracitaria. Together with the character and shape of the wavy black line and the line terminating at the forewing tip, I think I can also see the small white 'tick' mark on the costa that M. anthracitaria has just where the wavy line meets the costa.
15 Mar 2020
Yes, Melanodes anthracitaria is better, I was stuck on the idea it isa noctuoid.
15 Mar 2020
I think I see several white ticks in the basal part of a darker costal line on the forewing.
The white costal ticks in P. carbo and M. anthracitaria are more toward the apex,
and neither of these has a dark costal line.
The white costal ticks in P. carbo and M. anthracitaria are more toward the apex,
and neither of these has a dark costal line.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.274292-35.254831
- Places Wamboin, NSW
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 26 Oct 2019 07:30 PM Recorded on
- natureguy Recorded by
- 25mm to 50mm Animal size
- Unknown Gender
Collections
- natureguy Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Melanodes anthracitaria Geometer moths (Geometridae) Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects
Species information
- Melanodes anthracitaria Scientific name
- Black Geometrid Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1635.9m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
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Synonyms
Praxis corvus
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