Sighting 4463197
Lichenaula melanoleuca
Xyloryctidae at Numeralla, NSW
Identify this sighting
| Lichenaula melanoleuca | donhe | 21 May 2025 | |
| Lichenaula melanoleuca | WendyEM | 20 May 2025 | |
| Lichenaula comparella | donhe | 8 Jan 2023 | |
| Lichenaula (genus) | SteveBorkowskis | 7 Jan 2023 |
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User's notes
Attracted to UV light, approx 12-14mm long
3 comments
20 May 2025
Lichenaula melanoleuca
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=89480
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?verifiable=true&taxon_id=701043&place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744
https://xyloryctinemothsofaustralia.blogspot.com/2010/07/lichenaula-melanoleuca.html
otherwise - Lichenaula calligrapha
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=89480
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?verifiable=true&taxon_id=701043&place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744
https://xyloryctinemothsofaustralia.blogspot.com/2010/07/lichenaula-melanoleuca.html
otherwise - Lichenaula calligrapha
20 May 2025
Hi Wendy, I'm not sure I can easily agree this is C. melanaleuca and not L. comparella.
For example, if we go to iNaturalist page you cite above which iare sightings classified as C. melenaleuca ie.:-
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?verifiable=true&taxon_id=701043&place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744
to my eye there looks to be a sighting amongst them which to my eye is likely C. comparella ie.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/257422504
amongst the majority which are most likely C. melenaleuca eg.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/246421001
For example, if we go to iNaturalist page you cite above which iare sightings classified as C. melenaleuca ie.:-
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?verifiable=true&taxon_id=701043&place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744
to my eye there looks to be a sighting amongst them which to my eye is likely C. comparella ie.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/257422504
amongst the majority which are most likely C. melenaleuca eg.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/246421001
21 May 2025
I have more faith in BOLD images than iNaturalist, as their classifications are based on DNA rather than wing pattern.
I think this looks more like
https://v4.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=89480
than
https://v4.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=364899
which has a partial black line along the forewing inner margin.
I think this looks more like
https://v4.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=89480
than
https://v4.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=364899
which has a partial black line along the forewing inner margin.
Location information
- Places Numeralla, NSW
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- SteveBorkowskis Recorded by
- 12mm to 25mm Animal size
- Alive / healthy Animal health
Collections
- SteveBorkowskis NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Lichenaula melanoleuca Curved-horn moths (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae) Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects
Species information
- Lichenaula melanoleuca Scientific name
- Xyloryctidae Common name
- Sensitive
- Rare or uncommon native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- 6.38m to 760.84m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
6 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species