Oecophoridae provisional species 1

Melba, ACT

Oecophoridae provisional species 1 at Melba, ACT - 17 Feb 2021
Oecophoridae provisional species 1 at Melba, ACT - 17 Feb 2021
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Identification history

Oecophoridae provisional species 1 24 Feb 2021 GlennCocking
Oecophoridae (family) 21 Feb 2021 donhe
Oecophoridae (family) 21 Feb 2021 GlennCocking
Unidentified 18 Feb 2021 ibaird
Unidentified 18 Feb 2021 kasiaaus

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9 comments

ibaird wrote:
   18 Feb 2021
This moth appera to be a better match to S. innumera than S. episema (already recorded on CNM). even though I see no records of this species online other than mainly for SE Queensland online. S. innumera is known to feed on the scats of the Brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and pupate within them; so, in principle, at least, it should have no shortage of hosts in the ACT.
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/chez/innumera.html
kasiaaus wrote:
   18 Feb 2021
We have at least three possums in our back yard :-o
ibaird wrote:
   18 Feb 2021
The same here: male and female and offspring, see Sighting No 4371482 for the female and offspring!
GlennCocking wrote:
   21 Feb 2021
I don't think this is Scatochresis innumera. I think the light patch on the thorax and base of wings which would correspond with that species is a figment of the photo lighting, and although the dark spots are in the right position they are of a different nature to those shown on BOLD and iNAT. Unfortunately I can't do better than Oecophorinae (subfamily)
ibaird wrote:
   21 Feb 2021
The markings on the actual moth's forewing also correspond with S. innumera. S. innumera sightings show quite a bit of variation. Given its known host, I think we should keep an open mind that this moth species is quite likely to have a wider distribution.
donhe wrote:
   21 Feb 2021
The dark streak from base to cell of the forewing does not appear in any of the photos of S. innumera that I can find, although some photos of S. episema have a dark streak from cell to margin.
ibaird wrote:
   21 Feb 2021
I don't see the dark streak in the second photo, I had assumed the dark streak was a shadow from the RHS antenna.
donhe wrote:
   21 Feb 2021
Ok. I agree it is just a shadow.
GlennCocking wrote:
   24 Feb 2021
I think 4372386 and 4372139 and 4348179 and 4347180 and a couple of other more dubiously similar photos are of the same species. I'll assemble them together as an indeterminate species.

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 17 Feb 2021 12:54 AM Recorded on
  • kasiaaus Recorded by

Additional information

  • 12mm to 25mm Animal size

Species information

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
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