She-Oak Moth at Melba, ACT
Identification history
| Pernattia pusilla | 3 Feb 2021 | donhe | ||
| Pernattia pusilla | 2 Feb 2021 | kasiaaus |
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User's notes
This is the largest of three similar caterpillars I saw in this three. The other ones are sighting 4369895 and 4369896.
4 comments
donhe
wrote:
2 Feb 2021
I do NOT think that because they are on the same foodplant, that we can assume they are all the same species, especially image3, the red one.
I think different specimens should be different sightings, so that we can assess each separately, because many differences are subtle, and yet some variability is substantial. These need to be taken into account. It would be good for example, to rear the red one, and see whether the larva of P. pusilla is this variable, or whether the red caterpillar is actually a related species.
I think different specimens should be different sightings, so that we can assess each separately, because many differences are subtle, and yet some variability is substantial. These need to be taken into account. It would be good for example, to rear the red one, and see whether the larva of P. pusilla is this variable, or whether the red caterpillar is actually a related species.
kasiaaus
wrote:
3 Feb 2021
I will separate the photos and I will see if I can find the caterpillars again tomorrow. I have only managed to rear one moth so far. It takes a lot of time and I expect my time is better spent on the photos but I will try with this one.
kasiaaus
wrote:
4 Feb 2021
I went back to the tree and I found lots of yellow ones but no red one. Sorry. I will try again in a few days.
donhe
wrote:
4 Feb 2021
Of the approximately 10,000 named and described moth species in Australia, only about 1,000 have known life histories. I suggest that documenting life histories of more species is of greater scientific value than taking more photos of well documented adult moths.
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Nearby sightings
Location information
- Coordinates 149.049792-35.208433
- Altitude 607.7m
- Places Melba, ACT
Sighting information
- 3 Abundance
- 24 Jan 2021 09:53 PM Recorded on
- kasiaaus Recorded by
Additional information
- 25mm to 50mm Animal size
Species information
- Pernattia pusilla Scientific name
- She-Oak Moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-Invasive
- Up to 758.57m Recorded at altitude
- Machine learning
- External link More information
-
Synonyms
Pernattia exposita
Record quality
- Overall Fit for scientific/research use
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Confirmed by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
