Amata (genus)

1 Handmaiden Moth at Bonython, ACT

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Identification history

Amata (genus)	2 Aug 2017	ibaird
Amata (genus)	2 Aug 2017	ibaird
Unidentified	5 May 2017	MichaelBedingfield
Unidentified	5 May 2017	MichaelBedingfield

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User's notes

Wingspan 20mm; near Stranger Pond.

5 comments

GlennCocking wrote:

25 Jul 2017

Some Amata species are very similar, and are hard to separate even with a specimen in the hand. The type series of pyrocoma is from Rockhampton, and all 7 ANIC specimens are from central Qld. A. nigriceps looks very similar and has been frequently caught in the ACT. I think this specimen and the other two currently identified as pyrocoma are likely to be nigriceps.

ibaird wrote:

25 Jul 2017

Fair points Glenn. I guess. I was persuaded to A. pyrocoma by the fact that all three specimens showed an extra yellow spot (although faint in this one above, admittedly) giving five spots in total at the upper wing tip just as the illustration for A, pyrocoma shows for the ALA entry. Also the ALA showed quite a widespread distribution for that species including just as many Victorian records, suggesting to me that ACT records of A. pyrocoma would be feasible. But of course I don't know how reliable those Vic. records would be compared to the ANIC's holdings, nor whether the wing markings are really diagnostic. The ALA gives quite a coastal distribution in Qld and NSW. for A. nigriceps though although there are not many records in total to go on.

ibaird wrote:

26 Jul 2017

I further suggest that these specimens with the extra yellow wing spot (similar to A.pyrocoma) may alternatively prove to be Amata aperta. The latest update to Vol 2 of Moths of Victoria I have adds a page for A. aperta and includes the following note (my added comment in brackets): 'The type of A. aperta is held in Canberra and matches the specimens above' (-the specimens illustrated show the extra yellow wing spot for both sexes). 'These have sometimes been included under A. pyrocoma,a similar species found in Queensland (A.D.Edwards)'. A. aperta is shown in Moths Victoria to have a distribution described as 'SA,NSW (ANIC)' and a map showing a northern distribution in Victoria including the Murray-Darling Basin.The authors acknowledge that the taxonomy of the Amata g. is not settled

GlennCocking wrote:

2 Aug 2017

I think your last sentence is the key point. I looked again at ANIC and can't be definite about nigriceps. Most or all of these similar looking species are internally variable, including the presence or absence of some spots. I think it's best to call them all Amata sp.

ibaird wrote:

2 Aug 2017

Glenn,OK, that's fine. Pity though, it would be nice to be more definitive, if it were possible.They are such attractive and conspicuous species.

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