1 Rectangular Ermine Moth at Cook, ACT
Identification history
| Zelleria cynetica | 17 Oct 2020 | donhe | ||
| Zelleria cynetica | 17 Oct 2020 | ibaird | ||
| Unverified | 17 Oct 2020 | ibaird | ||
| Unverified | 17 Oct 2020 | CathB |
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7 comments
ibaird
wrote:
17 Oct 2020
Very distinctive posture, apparently a Zelleria sp. (genus) (family Yponomeutidae) . Looks likely to be Zellaria cynetica (which has been recorded in tha ACT).
GlennCocking
wrote:
18 Oct 2020
My initial thought on this was also Zelleria cynetica, given the posture, colour and the tuft at the end of the thorax, but I'm not convinced it's actually a moth. The head structures don't look right, but they aren't clear in the photo and I could be fooled. Two aspects of the wings also don't look right: while the tips of the forewings in Z. cynetica are often bent upwards or downwards, they are simply pointed and I can't think how they could be held in the shape that appears prominently (but indistinctly) in the photo; and I can't how the apparent transparent projection down over the base of the hind leg could come from Z. cynetica's wings. Finally, does it have scales - look particularly at the thorax?
ibaird
wrote:
18 Oct 2020
Yes, it doesn't quite appear as might be expected. but seeing. I think, an antenna where I would expect it to be was supporting evidence for me.
donhe
wrote:
18 Oct 2020
The projection over the base of the hindleg, and the antenna placement, look like that in Donald's photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/sets/72157628950930479/
GlennCocking
wrote:
18 Oct 2020
Yes, those photos do show the projection, althoughI still can't work out where it's coming from. The photos clarify that the forewing tip is basically pointed but has cilia that stand out on both sides in a live specimen.
ibaird
wrote:
18 Oct 2020
Yes, I noticed this projection over the base of the hindleg in several other images of Z. cynetica elsewhere, so I thought this was supporting evidence.
CathB
wrote:
19 Oct 2020
Thanks all. Unfortunately it didn't stay around long enough to get better photos.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.072333-35.266007
- Altitude 611.9m
- Maps Mount Painter
- Places Cook, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 15 Oct 2020 02:45 PM Recorded on
- CathB Recorded by
-
Collections
Insects Other moths Moths (Lepidoptera) CathB Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Zelleria cynetica
Species information
- Zelleria cynetica Scientific name
- Rectangular Ermine Moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 917.96m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information