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Eupselia satrapella and similar species

An Hypertrophid moth at Melba, ACT

Eupselia satrapella and similar species at Melba, ACT - 10 Nov 2020
Eupselia satrapella and similar species at Melba, ACT - 10 Nov 2020
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Identification history

Eupselia satrapella and similar species 15 Dec 2020 GlennCocking
Eupselia satrapella 14 Nov 2020 donhe
Edosa xystidophora 13 Nov 2020 ibaird
Unidentified 13 Nov 2020 kasiaaus

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6 comments

ibaird wrote:
   13 Nov 2020
Some specimens show the éyespots': https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/35723609
kasiaaus wrote:
   14 Nov 2020
Could it be Eupselia satrapella?
donhe wrote:
   14 Nov 2020
E. satrapella only has a single mauve band along the medial edge of the dark marginal fascia, where 4356881 seems to have a double mauve band. I think this is more like E. beltera
ibaird wrote:
   14 Nov 2020
Yes, on a closer look Edosa can be ruled out I think if only because the lateral margin between the yellow and black/purple is more vertical in this specimen than in E. xystidophora compared to the Eupselia alternatives. A second mauve band is discernible here but double mauve bands can also be seen on specimens of both E. beltera and E. satrapella online on the ALA. This specimen lacks a full expression of the broad costal brown band which seems to be present in a amjority of E. beltara specimens I can see .identified as such. Bold Systems 4 says E. beltera has small yellow spot near the apex which is visible in the three specimens we have already identified as such on CNM, whereas its missing here. BS4 says E. satrapella has been recorded in the ACT (ANIC) whereas E. beltera range on BS4 apparently encompasses the ACT, but their map does not show a specimen here. I can't rule out this specimen being E. satrapella.
donhe wrote:
   14 Nov 2020
I agree the mauve bands appear to be variable. But also on BS4, both species have yellow marks at the forewing apex. The special difference seems to be the pale spot "on the dorsum at three-fourths", as Turner puts it, on E. beltera. This specimen has no such spot, so as Katarina suggested, is more consistent with Eupselia satrapella. The caveat is that BS4 also distinguishes over 100 additional unnamed Eupselia species, some of which appear similar to E. beltera and E. satrapella.
GlennCocking wrote:
   13 Dec 2020
I believe E. beltera and strapella cannot be distinguished in photos, and are difficult even with specimens in the hand. Both have similar and similarly varying apical patterns in the forewing. The description of beltera says "Near E. satrapella, differering mainly in the hindwings" which our records do not show. There are also other species in the complex, mainly undescribed, which add to the difficulty. I think we should merge our records under E. satrapella, the oldest name.

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