Prepalla (genus)
2 A Concealer moth (Chezala group at Parkes, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Prepalla (genus) | ibaird | 13 Oct 2026 | |
| Prepalla (genus) | WendyEM | 8 Oct 2026 | |
| Phryganeutis cinerea | WendyEM | 8 Oct 2026 | |
| Faveria tritalis | CarbonAI | 8 Oct 2026 | |
| Unverified | TimL | 8 Oct 2026 |
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5 comments
8 Oct 2026
Interesting moth/oecophorid. It looks quite like Phryganeutis cinerea but I have not seen one of this colour and P. cinerea palps are a bit shorter (where the palps curve up, not the extending fibres). Looking at the iNat Research Grade specimens there appears to be 2 forms but even so I am not convinced above is this moth.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=927751
A Prepalla sp is a possibility. There is less live material of this genus but some species on BOLD (Hobern) have very long palps and similar markings
https://bold-au.hobern.net/taxon.php?taxid=408528
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=377797
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=927751
A Prepalla sp is a possibility. There is less live material of this genus but some species on BOLD (Hobern) have very long palps and similar markings
https://bold-au.hobern.net/taxon.php?taxid=408528
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=377797
13 Oct 2026
Excellent photos. The dorsal views rule out P. cinerea, I think. Yes, possibly Prepalla (genus) but this seems to another case where identified photos from life would provide a better basis for ID if they were readily available. I note there are several Prepalla spp. listed on iNaturalist without specimen photos as yet. Wendy, it might be worth have a look at Ian Common's monograph 'The Chezala' (Vol. 2) if you have access to a copy. I will create a category for Prepalla (genus) at least as a placeholder hoping the might be resolved in the future.
14 Oct 2026
18 Oct 2026
I've dug out Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Vol. 5 Oecophorine Gerera of Australia II he Chezala, Philobota and Eulechria Groups (Lepidoptera: Oecophirudae) by Ian F.B. Common CSIRO Publishing, 1997 p. 166 - 170
The next genus covered is Thema and the previous one is Diapatela - a run of long fluffy palps genera.
On Prepalla 7 described sp and 2 undescribed sp are referred to Prepalla. Only 2 moths/sp are figured. ID is largely by structures in male genital dissections. "The labial palpi may be long and somewhat up-curved, with the second segment clothed with long, expanding dorsal and ventral scales, sometimes restricted to the dorsal surface, or labial palpi long and recurved, with the second segment thickened with appressed scales." "Small moths having the fore wings either grey, with the veins more or less outlined in whitish or dark fuscous, or black, sometimes with a few whitish markings." "The genus is widely distributed in all states and territories." "The diversity in the form of the labial palpi, ranging from the long, only slightly up-curved second segment clothed with long, expanding scales, as in P. tephrini, to the recurved palpi with appressed scalesof P. leucophlebia, no doubt contributed to the previous generic confusion. The monophyly of Prepalla is strongly supported by the form of the male genitalia, ........" "Antennae ......... ciliated near base in male ...."
Above moth is probably Prepalla (genus)
The next genus covered is Thema and the previous one is Diapatela - a run of long fluffy palps genera.
On Prepalla 7 described sp and 2 undescribed sp are referred to Prepalla. Only 2 moths/sp are figured. ID is largely by structures in male genital dissections. "The labial palpi may be long and somewhat up-curved, with the second segment clothed with long, expanding dorsal and ventral scales, sometimes restricted to the dorsal surface, or labial palpi long and recurved, with the second segment thickened with appressed scales." "Small moths having the fore wings either grey, with the veins more or less outlined in whitish or dark fuscous, or black, sometimes with a few whitish markings." "The genus is widely distributed in all states and territories." "The diversity in the form of the labial palpi, ranging from the long, only slightly up-curved second segment clothed with long, expanding scales, as in P. tephrini, to the recurved palpi with appressed scalesof P. leucophlebia, no doubt contributed to the previous generic confusion. The monophyly of Prepalla is strongly supported by the form of the male genitalia, ........" "Antennae ......... ciliated near base in male ...."
Above moth is probably Prepalla (genus)
Location information
- Coordinates 149.133435-35.298040
- Altitude 573.0m
- Places Parkes, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 6 Oct 2026 05:00 AM Recorded on
- TimL Recorded by
- 12mm to 25mm Animal size
Collections
- TimL NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Concealer moths (Oecophoridae) Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects Prepalla (genus)
Species information
- Prepalla (genus) Scientific name
- A Concealer moth (Chezala group Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- 573m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
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- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Description