Alucita phricodes at Ainslie, ACT

11 A Many-plumed Moth at Ainslie, ACT

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Identification history

Alucita phricodes	21 Jun 2020	donhe
Alucita phricodes	21 Jun 2020	ibaird
Alucita (genus)	21 Jun 2020	ibaird
Alucita pygmaea	21 Jun 2020	jbromilow50

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8 comments

jbromilow50 wrote:

21 Jun 2020

I think that this is either Alucita phricodes or A. pygmaea, both of which have only been reported in northern Australia. Butterfly House suggests that A. phricodes has lighter hind wing plumes which this one does not have. It looks like an A. pygmaea reported on ALA but it looks more like A. phricodes reported on Butterfly House.

jbromilow50 wrote:

21 Jun 2020

Many plumed moth (Alucitidae). This one has 6 plumes on "Forewing", 6 plumes on "Hindwing".

jbromilow50 wrote:

21 Jun 2020

Costa bands identical to A.phricodes on Butterfly House.

jbromilow50 wrote:

21 Jun 2020

Antennae plain brown, no bands.

jbromilow50 wrote:

21 Jun 2020

A Guide to Australian Moths P 122 indicates that A. phricodes has been observed as far south as Batemans Bay.

ibaird wrote:

21 Jun 2020

I agree its most probably an Alucita genus moth (A Many-plumed Moth), but I'm not sure we can be conclusive regarding which species. A. phricoides (Wonga Wonga Vine P. pandorana) and A xanthodes seem likely.

donhe wrote:

21 Jun 2020

What was the wingspan? A. phricodes is 20% larger than A. pymaea.

ibaird wrote:

21 Jun 2020

The ALA shows A, phricodes has been submitted by D. Hobern at Aranda in the ACT and there are two records there for Melbourne. The recorded food plant for this species Pandorea pandorana has been widely planted in native gardens in Canberra and probably Melbourne. On a second look I think there is a close match in patterning as John Bromilow suggests. I don't think the costa pattern of A. pygmaea matches.

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