Dichromodes ainaria

A geometer or looper moth at Theodore, ACT

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Identification history

	Dichromodes ainaria	9 Dec 2020	GlennCocking
	Dichromodes ainaria	1 Dec 2020	owenh

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8 comments

owenh wrote:

1 Dec 2020

Greetings gents, many thanks for looking at this one. May I ask for a reconsideration of confirmation please. Specimen matches images for D. ainaria (Common Heath Moth) on both ALA and MoV4 CD p2/2. MoV also records that D. oriphoetes, (also known as the Alpine Heath Moth), is particularly from the Mt Kosciuszko area. Sighting was recorded amongst a Kunzea ericoides and heathy area on the lower slopes of the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve - not an alpine site.

ibaird wrote:

2 Dec 2020

Thanks Owen for your considered query. Upon reflection I agree with you that unless we have a better diagnostic basis, the balance of probabilities is that this specimen would just as likely be D. ainaria given that the to species in question are so similar in appearance and that Tuggersanong Hill ecologically speaking, is not a high alpine location ( ie its not at the limits) of tree growth). I am not able to reliably distinguish the two species on their appreance alone, however my colleagues may be in a better position to do so. I therefore re-open the identification for my fellow moth modertors' condideration. I also acknowledge that ALA records may not be peer reviewd,

donhe wrote:

2 Dec 2020

The main superficial difference between the species is the presence or absence of a dark marginal band to the hindwings. The hindwings are not visible in this photo, so basically we cannot reliably tell which it is.
Another superficial difference is that the lines on the forewings of D. oriphoetes have a higher contrast against the background colour than do the lines on the forewings of D. ainara.
This was the basis of my original determination as D. oriphoetes, but contrast is a variable character and not reliable.
So using location: previous sightings labelled D. oriphoetes on CNM have been in Namadgi National Park. Is this as Alpine as Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve ?

owenh wrote:

2 Dec 2020

Ian/Don, thank you for looking into this. Am also very aware of the difficulty the moderators often face determining species from photo's alone.
Don fyi: Very basically, THNR is a 365 hectare nature park of largely dry woodland/open forest (environment ACT) and old cleared 'paddocks' etc partly bordered by suburban Canberra. The moths were sighted at approx 750m asl. On the other hand Namadgi National Park forms part of the Great Dividing Range and is some distance away.

ibaird wrote:

2 Dec 2020

I also point out that the MoV authors said they expected D. oriphoetes to be found to be more widespread in sub-alpine as well as sub-alpine environments. The other three CNM sightings are relatively high contrast except ter first which was at Mt Tennant at 733 m.

ibaird wrote:

2 Dec 2020

Looking at the preserved specimen records in detail on the ALA is interesting. The holotype dated 7/12/1922 from Kosciousko NP with a relatively imprecise geographic location by today's standards but giving a modelled altitude of 1118m. 5 records from Namadgi NP 11/12/2013 (Britton and G. Cocking) 'Sphagnum bog below summit of Mt Murray', modelled altitude 1633m. One sight record from Armidale Tablemands (Nick Lambert, iNaturalist) which shows high contrast markings at 807 m. altitude.The two high contract records on CNM are from Mt Bimberi at altitude, but I don't have an altitude figure. The first record on CNM is relatively low contrast and is from the slopes of Mt Tennant at 733m. On this basis I suggest that first CNM record has a stronger case for its ID to be reviewed., but as we recieve more sight records a better picture will hopefully emerge.

GlennCocking wrote:

9 Dec 2020

Although some oriphoetes have a fw pattern like ainara, this one looks more like ainara to me, and the location strongly prefers ainaria.

owenh wrote:

9 Dec 2020

Many thanks Glenn.

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