A concealer moth at Melba, ACT
Identification history
| Atheropla decaspila | 4 Nov 2020 | ibaird | ||
| Atheropla decaspila | 3 Nov 2020 | donhe | ||
| Atheropla crocea | 3 Nov 2020 | ibaird | ||
| Unidentified | 3 Nov 2020 | kasiaaus |
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5 comments
ibaird
wrote:
3 Nov 2020
My authority for this ID is Harris and Marriott (2018) Entomological Society of Victoria 'Morwell NP Leoidoptera and Neuroptera", see photo page 32.
donhe
wrote:
3 Nov 2020
None of the 6 iNaturalist nor 3 BOLD specimens nor 5 ALA photos of Atheropla crocea show a forewing marginal arc of dark spots. Nor does Turner mention them in his original description. I regret that I do not have access to 'Morwell NP Lepidoptera and Neuroptera'. However, Common's illustrations of A. decaspila and A. hemispila and Hobern's https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/2989505489/ do show such an arc,
ibaird
wrote:
3 Nov 2020
The reference above at page 32 actually shows images of A. crocera and A. decaspila right alongside each other. The forewing marginal arc of dark spots is definitely present in A. crocera as labelled whereas clearly absent in A. decaspila. Also the pair of black dots, one in each forewing midway between the thorax and the line of four (2 on each forewing) are present in the A. crocera image and are absent altogether in their image of A.decaspila. I will see if I can take a photo of that page and sent it as an email attachment. Send me an email to ibaird@netspeed.com.au and I can send the image to you.
donhe
wrote:
4 Nov 2020
One imagines that the name 'decaspila' implies 10 spots on each forewing: 5 on the body of the wing and 5 around the margin.
It looks like Turner, BOLD, ALA, Hobern, and Common disagree with Harris and Marriott.
Are Harris' photo of A. crocea (with no marginal spots), and Harris' and Marriott's photos of A. decaspila (all with marginal spots) that are on ALA, also in the Morwell publication, or are they different photos? Maybe there was a simple misprint?
It looks like Turner, BOLD, ALA, Hobern, and Common disagree with Harris and Marriott.
Are Harris' photo of A. crocea (with no marginal spots), and Harris' and Marriott's photos of A. decaspila (all with marginal spots) that are on ALA, also in the Morwell publication, or are they different photos? Maybe there was a simple misprint?
ibaird
wrote:
4 Nov 2020
Or it could be 10 spots in total on the wings, disregarding the marginal spotting. I think you are correct and Harris and Marriott is probably a labelling misprint, easy because the label attribution takes place in an index, not on the images themselves. I have picked up another error of transposition in the same suite of publications. I haven’t checked whether any of the ALA Harris/Marriott images are at Morwell too, but that can be done online if one wishes to. As I see it, BOLD, ALA, Hobern and Common all recognise a ‘10 spot’ A. decaspila (except two ALA postings from one source which look like A. crocera to me. I can’t speak for Turner! PS. I think we should revise the Atheropa IDs on CNM I the light of this.
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Nearby sightings
Location information
- Coordinates 149.050170-35.208647
- Altitude 599.9m
- Places Melba, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 - 3 Abundance
- 1 Nov 2020 11:10 PM Recorded on
- kasiaaus Recorded by
Additional information
- 5mm to 12mm Animal size
Species information
- Atheropla decaspila Scientific name
- A concealer moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-Invasive
- Up to 765.8m Recorded at altitude
- Machine learning
- External link More information
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- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
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