Heliozela (genus)

Heliozelidae moth at Melba, ACT

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Identification history

Heliozela (genus)	17 Mar 2025	WendyEM
Heliozela (genus)	28 Feb 2022	ibaird
Unidentified	28 Feb 2022	kasiaaus

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9 comments

donhe wrote:

28 Feb 2022

Perhaps a Hoplophanes species? All the Heliozela species on BOLD have a short white mark on the forewing hind margin, rather than a complete transverse band.

RogerF wrote:

1 Mar 2022

I recognised this moth as a heliozelid as I am involved in a Citizen science project to document the flower hosts of these moths in the Rutaceae, notably Boronia, but also Phebalium, Eriostemon and Zieria but I have had little luck in our area. So I was wondering where you saw this specimen. These moths are entirely dependant on these flowers as their larvae develop in the ovules. There are over 100 species and many are thought to be host specific.

donhe wrote:

1 Mar 2022

Roger: there appear to be only pictures of 3 Australian Heliozelidae species published on the web. Would you have, or could you take, photos of the species you are concerned with, and put them on CNM, so that we might more easily recognise them in future?

kasiaaus wrote:

1 Mar 2022

Hi Roger. This moth came to my moth light (gecko) at the edge of my carport in Melba. I usually put it there when there is a risk of rain. I have some Crowea in the garden but not close to where the light was. I have a lot of flowers both native and others. I never saw it on a flower, just on my wall. I will keep an eye out for it.

RogerF wrote:

1 Mar 2022

Hi Don,
I'm just the messenger! I responded to a request from the Sun Loving Moths Gang for photos of these moths as I had been introduced to them on Boronia flowers in Kuringai Chase NP by Wendy Grim, a member of the Gang. I have some pictures of an unnamed species at the time from there. Doug Hilton is the leader of the group.
Photos can be emailed to Sun.Loving.Moths@gmail.com or posted on Instagram. I can forward the picture if you like. I'm not sure if there are any reports of them being attracted to light. At least we now know they are in our area but the host plant remains elusive.
The request was published in the ANPSC Journal Vol 20 No 7 March 2021.

ibaird wrote:

1 Mar 2022

There are some 77 records of Austalian Heliozela sp. (including photos of set specimens) on Bold Systems 4. See here:
http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?searchMenu=taxonomy&query=Heliozela&taxon=Heliozela

kasiaaus wrote:

1 Mar 2022

Hi Roger. I have sharpened the primary picture a bit. Please feel free to take any of my photos for the project. Katarina

RogerF wrote:

1 Mar 2022

Thanks Katerina I have sent your picture to Wendy Grim.

donhe wrote:

1 Mar 2022

None of the 24 photos in
http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?searchMenu=taxonomy&query=Heliozela&taxon=Heliozela
resemble Catarina's moth.
The list of 38 species there includes only one of the 12 named Australian Heliozela species.
I have so far been unable to find any Heliozela photos on ALA,
only 16 photos of unnamed species on iNaturalist, and none in AMO.

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Location information

Coordinates 149.050287 -35.208564
Altitude 581.5m
Places Melba, ACT

Sighting information

At least 1 Abundance
3 Jan 2022 11:42 PM Recorded on
kasiaaus Recorded by
Collections
My flagged sightings kasiaaus NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Other moths Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects

Additional information

5mm to 12mm Animal size

Species information

Heliozela (genus) Scientific name
Heliozelidae moth Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 600.2m Recorded at altitude
Machine learning
External link More information

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes