Insects
Moths (Lepidoptera)
Other moths
Sighting 4351349

Zelleria cynetica

1 Rectangular Ermine Moth at Cook, ACT

Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
Zelleria cynetica at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2020
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Identification history

Zelleria cynetica 17 Oct 2020 donhe
Zelleria cynetica 17 Oct 2020 ibaird
Unidentified 17 Oct 2020 ibaird
Unidentified 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.

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