Unverified
2 Can you identify this sighting?
Identify this sighting
| Heliozelidae (family) | 22 Jul 2026 | WendyEM | ||
| Heliozela (genus) | 21 Jul 2026 | WendyEM | ||
| Unverified | 6 Dec 2024 | DPRees125 |
Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.
User's notes
Quite a few of these very small (2-3mm long) little grey moths flying round several bushes of the same spp. of pomedarris on side of road, last pictue is detail of the bush
13 comments
DPRees125
wrote:
7 Dec 2024
would you like me to do better than this attempt at these little things??
DPRees125
wrote:
7 Dec 2024
I've had a look at MoV, part 6 page 5 at Lophocorona. These moths are much smaller than that species, about half the size. They apprear very fresh at the moment and seemed to me to be sticking to that pomedarris, rather than nearby cassia etc. etc.
donhe
wrote:
7 Dec 2024
Photos showing the hindwings would be good, and close ups of the head. If you can capture one and put it to sleep in the fridge, it might be easier to photograph .
DPRees125
wrote:
8 Dec 2024
I have added some more images to the best of my ability, the ruler marks where seen are 0.5mm
WendyEM
wrote:
21 Jul 2026
or HELIOZELIDAE - I can see the distinctive domed head in several shots. Small size and wing shape is consistent too.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&taxon_id=126380
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&taxon_id=126380
WendyEM
wrote:
22 Jul 2026
Axel Kallies comments on this moth which I had thought, having just skimmed through
https://arthropod-systematics.arphahub.com/article/130334/
might be a Prophylactis sp
"That is a different undescribed species belonging to an undescribed genus. Seems to be limited to Pomaderris etc"
so until they do some more papers it should be HELIOZELIDAE (family)
https://arthropod-systematics.arphahub.com/article/130334/
might be a Prophylactis sp
"That is a different undescribed species belonging to an undescribed genus. Seems to be limited to Pomaderris etc"
so until they do some more papers it should be HELIOZELIDAE (family)
DPRees125
wrote:
22 Jul 2026
Thank you for that, I've had a look at that paper. There is little doubt in my mind that these insects have a close association with the Pomedarris, esp the flowering parts, as they were flying around and walking over them. I would agree with your determination on that.
ibaird
wrote:
22 Jul 2026
A new species sighting for NatureMapr, likely an undescribed species. Excellent photos. Many thanks to WendyEM and Alex Kallies for their work on this.
Sighting information
- 16 - 100 Abundance
- DPRees125 Recorded by
- a Pomedaris spp. Associated plant
- Less than 5mm Animal size
- Alive / healthy Animal health
Collections
- DPRees125 NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Other moths Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects Featured
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Description
- Additional attributes
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location