A Plathopper Parasite Moth at Cook, ACT
Identification history
| Epipyropidae (Family), Zygaenoidea (Superfamily) | Yesterday | WendyEM | ||
| Epipyropidae (Family), Zygaenoidea (Superfamily) | Yesterday | ibaird | ||
| Epipyropidae (Family) | 29 Jun 2026 | WendyEM | ||
| Unverified | 7 Feb 2026 | CathB |
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6 comments
WendyEM
wrote:
3 Mar 2026
I don't think it is Pataeta carbo as that sp has an angle 1/2way along the termen and a scalloped edge rather than the long sweeping curve above moth shows. Also in none of the 1st page of iNat research grade images of this moth (96 records) does it rest with its wings covering the abdomen, but rather resting beside the abdomen.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=210483
I have done A LOT of looking for an alternative and not found a convincing one so far however.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=210483
I have done A LOT of looking for an alternative and not found a convincing one so far however.
ibaird
wrote:
3 Mar 2026
Yes. it was simply my best suggestion based apparently on a squared off abdomen and a transverse white band visible in the 5th image - although I suspect that 5th image is a view from the underside. Yes, I have been looking without success. P. carbo does not have forewings with trailing margins with a feathery fringe.
WendyEM
wrote:
3 Mar 2026
It is actually fairly small, < 12mm. It has very short pectinate antenna. I wonder if it is a Psychid? Shape looks quite like Trigonocyttara clandestina although I think that sp. is much bigger than this moth. I am still looking.
WendyEM
wrote:
29 Jun 2026
Epipyropidae
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=176439
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/epip/epip-moths.html
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/3f0d2b07-771d-4f60-a9b1-4219212ffa83#gallery
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=176439
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/epip/epip-moths.html
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/3f0d2b07-771d-4f60-a9b1-4219212ffa83#gallery
CathB
wrote:
4 Jul 2026
That looks like a good match, and an interesting one. Thanks for persisting with it Wendy.
ibaird
wrote:
Yesterday
I suggest this taxon is better placed on NatureMapr in the grouping 'Other Moths' given it is classified in the Superfamily Zygaenoidea not in Noctuoidea.
Location information
- Places Cook, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- CathB Recorded by
-
Collections
CathB NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Other moths Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects Epipyropidae (Family), Zygaenoidea (Superfamily)
Additional information
- 5mm to 12mm Animal size
Species information
- Epipyropidae (Family), Zygaenoidea (Superfamily) Scientific name
- A Plathopper Parasite Moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- 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