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Hydroptilidae (family) WendyEM 19 Oct 2025
Gelechioidea (superfamily) ibaird 16 Oct 2025
Unverified TimL 16 Oct 2025

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User's notes

This insect initially looked like a tiny ant foraging on the vastness of a footbridge handrail. It was running around and around in very small circles and did this for some time. When it eventually stopped, I took some images before it began the circling behaviour again. The insect turned out to be one of the smallest moths I’ve seen, at less than 5mm overall length. Unsure as to type of moth. Concealer?

3 comments

   16 Oct 2025
An intriguing species. Yet to find a match!
   16 Oct 2025
@Kallies Any suggestions for this one?
   16 Oct 2025
maybe it is one of these https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/177738-Hydroptila
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/b0da9007-acf0-4230-b655-524412adcb54#gallery
whatever it is, it is a stunning record!

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Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • TimL Recorded by
  • Less than 5mm Animal size

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Record quality

Quality score 5 / 7
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  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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