Sighting 4723301
Scieropepla polyxesta
Xyloryctidae at Chapman, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Scieropepla polyxesta | ibaird | 29 Sep 2026 | |
| Scieropepla typhicola | ibaird | 29 Sep 2026 | |
| Philobota productella | CarbonAI | 28 Sep 2026 | |
| Unverified | Miranda | 14 Mar 2026 |
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3 comments
19 Jul 2026
Scieropepla polyxesta does not have the thickening at the antennae base, they tend to have yellow around the wing and the wing is more pointed. I am still looking for an alternative suggestion.
29 Sep 2026
OK. I take your point re the antennae base, but I don't see the fine black line along the costa for P. productella either.
This image on LBH perpetuates the error in ID assuming it is an error:-
https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/xylo/polyxesta.html
I would argue the palps have a disnct 'elbow' which seems to be a Scieropepla (genus) feature whereas the P, productella palps show a smooth curve.
S. typhicola would appear to fit which apparently does have white antennae and a white antenna base.
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/cfb97b8c-58fb-4961-92e3-27ab43c47057#gallery
This image on LBH perpetuates the error in ID assuming it is an error:-
https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/xylo/polyxesta.html
I would argue the palps have a disnct 'elbow' which seems to be a Scieropepla (genus) feature whereas the P, productella palps show a smooth curve.
S. typhicola would appear to fit which apparently does have white antennae and a white antenna base.
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/cfb97b8c-58fb-4961-92e3-27ab43c47057#gallery
29 Sep 2026
Scieropepla typhicola is pink/brown tinged not pure white like above. Definitely NOT Philobota productella or any other Philobota species. In this current (bombardment) environment I suggest returning to your original suggestion Scieropepla polyxesta. Looking throught the 'Research Grade" examples on iNat there is some variation in features. Above has some features (e.g. eye caps, no yellow tinge) not consistent with this species but it is a good approximation until a new moth name is found or described. I can't see any species with eye caps in a quick scan through Xyloryctidae.
I wonder if this is a new Oxythecta sp - ignoring the markings, look at the stance, palps, eyecap, head https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/555421-Oxythecta-lygrosema or https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/342187-Oxythecta-alternella
I wonder if this is a new Oxythecta sp - ignoring the markings, look at the stance, palps, eyecap, head https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/555421-Oxythecta-lygrosema or https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/342187-Oxythecta-alternella
Location information
- Coordinates 149.024758-35.351714
- Altitude 661.5m
- Maps Cooleman Ridge
- Places Chapman, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 11 Mar 2026 02:33 PM Recorded on
- Miranda Recorded by
- 5mm to 12mm Animal size
Collections
- Miranda NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Scieropepla polyxesta Curved-horn moths (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae) Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects
Species information
- Scieropepla polyxesta Scientific name
- Xyloryctidae Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 938.5m Recorded at altitude
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Description