Unplaced tetramera
A Geometer moth at Paddys River, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Unplaced tetramera | GlennCocking | 5 Jun 2022 | |
| Unplaced tetramera | ibaird | 20 Nov 2021 | |
| Unplaced tetramera | donhe | 23 Feb 2020 | |
| Casbia crateaa | ibaird | 22 Feb 2020 |
Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.
User's notes
Attracted to UV light at night.
8 comments
23 Feb 2020
I have suggested this species as Casbia crataea in line with the policy of using the Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) as the taxonomic naming authority. Moths of Victoria (MoV) and Lepidoptera Butterfly House (LBH) recognise C. tetramera with LBH listing C, crataea and Boarmia eucrypta as synonyms. However the AFD does not recognise C. tetramera, rather C. crataea as the species and B. eucrypta as the synonym. Both the ALA and Bold Systems 4 conform with this convention. I think there is quite a good match of this specimen with images on the ALA, Bold Systems 4 , iNaturalist with C. crataea ;and on LBH with C. tetramera.
23 Feb 2020
ALA and AFD recognise 'Unplaced tetramera', following the Checklist, listing it as a separate species to Casbia crataea, but the genus Casbia being unsuitable for it. LBH lists it under Lower's original name 'Xenomusa tetramera' until some suitable genus is found.
I think that this sighting, 4250616, looks more like 'Unplaced tetramera' than Casbia crataea.
I think that this sighting, 4250616, looks more like 'Unplaced tetramera' than Casbia crataea.
23 Feb 2020
The vague yellow line across the forewing of C. crataea has a slight dumbbell shape: narrow in the middle, and bulgy near the costa and near the hind-margin.
U. tetramera has a yellow line that is bulgy near the costa but narrow and zigzaggy near the hind margin, which is more like this specimen.
U. tetramera has a yellow line that is bulgy near the costa but narrow and zigzaggy near the hind margin, which is more like this specimen.
23 Feb 2020
The question of the correct name for Unplaced tetramera and Casbia crataea arose when MoV3 was under preparation. It was concluded that the available specimens were Casbia tetramera, and that name was published in MoV3. One of MoV3's CD files explains this. BOLD, ALA and AFD treatments all reflect the earlier thinking. I agree with Ian that the basis for CNM's taxonomy should be AFD as CNM users who wish to can always go to that single source for backup information. Otherwise they have to hunt around for the latest published material. But there will always be cases like this one where AFD is not up-to-date, or perhaps there are conflicting views, and people may query the name. The MOV3 CD files show considerable variation in the yellow line across the forewing.
Calliteara rotundata is an example of where CNM uses a more up-to-date name than AFD's Iropoca rotundata. But the departure from AFD was accidental - as I recall, I put the species onto CNM using what I knew was the published new name without checking whether it had been updated on AFD. (I did once receive a query about it.)
Calliteara rotundata is an example of where CNM uses a more up-to-date name than AFD's Iropoca rotundata. But the departure from AFD was accidental - as I recall, I put the species onto CNM using what I knew was the published new name without checking whether it had been updated on AFD. (I did once receive a query about it.)
23 Feb 2020
A parallel situation exists for Sighting No, 4250594, although that of course is a different specimen at a different location and date.
Location information
- Coordinates 148.888950-35.456965
- Altitude 900.0m
- Maps Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
- Places Paddys River, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 11 Nov 2018 10:02 PM Recorded on
- ibaird Recorded by
- 25mm to 50mm Animal size
- Female Gender
Collections
- Insects Moths (Lepidoptera) Geometer moths (Geometridae) ibaird Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Unplaced tetramera
Species information
- Unplaced tetramera Scientific name
- A Geometer moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- 900m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
- Images or audio
- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
- More than one media file
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species