Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth

Pialligo, ACT

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth at Pialligo, ACT - 15 May 2021
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Identification history

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth 1 Jun 2022 GlennCocking
Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth 16 May 2021 donhe
Unidentified 16 May 2021 Halina

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User's notes

Spotted at Pialligo

4 comments

donhe wrote:
   16 May 2021
The face suggests Thaumetopoeinae, but we only have photos of 12 out of the 29 named species in that subfamily, and I don't think it is one of those 12.
You need to rear it in protective custody to an adult moth to get an identification.
Halina wrote:
   16 May 2021
Thanks, Don. I might go back and see if I can find it again.
donhe wrote:
   16 May 2021
They can walk at about 1 cm/second = 36m/hr, so overnight they could be over 100m away from where you last saw it. It is better to carry a little plastic specimen bottle with you when you go out, to capture such beasties on the spot, as most caterpillars need to be reared to the adult moth to identify them, and predators kill over 99% of caterpillars if you leave them in the wild.
Halina wrote:
   16 May 2021
In that case, I won't worry but I will certainly take your advice on the bottle. When I first saw it, I didn't see any others in the near vicinity. It seemed to be on its own.

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Nearby sightings

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 15 May 2021 01:13 PM Recorded on
  • Halina Recorded by

Additional information

  • Callistemon pinifolius Associated plant
  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size
  • Larvae Breeding behaviour

Species information

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  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
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