Geometridae (family) IMMATURE at Towrang, NSW

Unidentified IMMATURE Geometer moths at Towrang, NSW

Request use of media

Identification history

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE	9 Jan 2023	ibaird
Geometridae (family) IMMATURE	9 Jan 2023	donhe
Unidentified	9 Jan 2023	Harrisi

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

3 comments

donhe wrote:

9 Jan 2023

The presence of only 2 pairs of prolegs suggests it is in Geometridae, but it does not not resemble any of the illustrated Geometrid caterpillars linked from
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/geometridae/geometridae-cats.html
so I hope you can rear it to an adult moth for identification.
One clue would be the name of the plant upon which it was feeding?

Harrisi wrote:

9 Jan 2023

Thanks Don. In most pics here I am clearly seeing 3 x pairs of pro legs, does that change the ID challenge? It's two large head appendages would also be a point of difference dont you think?
Creature was not collected sorry.

donhe wrote:

9 Jan 2023

Caterpillars of several species in Geometridae and other familes have fleshy dorsal appendages, but I have never seen appendendages like these, so they are not at this stage of our ignorance, diagnostic. The reduced prolegs are diagnostic. On this specimen, it is rather hard to discern their form from these particular photos, but the anterior pair look to me to be vestigial, like the caterpillar of Fisera belidearia, so maybe I should count that as 2.5. Some Geometrid caterpillars actually have 3 pairs (eg Antictenia punctunculus) and some have 4 pairs (eg Fisera eribola). But, besides Geometridae, only some Noctuoidea families have caterpillars with reduced prolegs, but as far as I know, Geometridae is the only family with 2 or 2.5. Anyway, until more people take caterpillars and rear them in protective custody, given that only 1% survive predation, parasites, and disease in the wild to turn into adults, we will never know much about what turns into what. You should always carry a small plastic sample bottle with you when you go photographing, to collect immature beasties for protective rearing, if you think it would be good to know that.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only 2 0 2

Zenithicola sp. (genus) (Zenithicola sp. (genus)) at Towrang, NSW - 7 Jan 2023 by Harrisi

Castiarina livida (Jewel Beetle) at Towrang, NSW - 7 Jan 2023 by Harrisi

Location information

Coordinates 149.830572 -34.720389
Places Towrang, NSW

Species information

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE Scientific name
Unidentified IMMATURE Geometer moths Common name
Not Sensitive
Local Native
Non-Invasive

Sighting information

1 - 3 Abundance
7 Jan 2023 03:52 PM Recorded on
Harrisi Recorded by

Additional information

Euc Associated plant
25mm to 50mm Animal size
Alive / healthy Animal health

Record quality

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