Heliocausta undescribed species

A concealer moth at Melba, ACT

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Identification history

Heliocausta undescribed species	1 May 2022	donhe
Heliocausta undescribed species	1 May 2022	GlennCocking
Cryptolechia triphaenatella	30 Apr 2022	GlennCocking
Heliocausta oecophorella	24 Feb 2022	kasiaaus

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6 comments

ibaird wrote:

24 Feb 2022

If you are suggesting this sighting is Heliocausta oecophorella, I suppose you would also agree that Sighting Nos 43596561, 4364955 and 43695446 should be re-classified to this species as well? I note you previously commented that Sighting 4364955 was similar to H. oecophorella in the Gippsland moths EntoVic. publicatiion. I note also there is only one example of H. oecophorella on the ALA which closely matches this specimen, and two the others are much more boldly marked. The example on LBH also matches the bold ALA. examples, If donhe agrees I would be prepared to re-classify these CNM sightings all to H. oecophorella. Although I note H. oecophorella on LBH is much yellower looking and is described as having a WA and SA distribution,

kasiaaus wrote:

24 Feb 2022

Thank you for the thorough analysis Ian. I don't really think that I am qualified to judge what to do here. Maybe we should ask Glenn?

donhe wrote:

25 Feb 2022

I have altered the LBH page to show the two forms. Maybe it is dimorphic, or two confused species.

GlennCocking wrote:

30 Apr 2022

I don't think we have Heliocausta oecophorella in the ACT, and such specimens are an undescribed Heliocausta species - see discussion on record 4231746. In this case the specimen looks to me more like Crytolechia triphaenatella, see Moths in ACT p 78.

kasiaaus wrote:

30 Apr 2022

You are most likely right Glenn but the dark area behind the head does not seem to match Crytolechia triphaenatella. Also, one of the sightings of Heliocausta oecophorella on iNat looks very similar to this specimen.

GlennCocking wrote:

1 May 2022

I can't be definitive about whether this is Cryptolechia triphaeatella or the locallly common Heliocausta undescribed species, it's a matter of photo interpretation. But I don't think it's H. oecophorella. Inat doesn't recognise the undescribed species, so doesn't help. Looking afresh this morning, I prefer Heliocausta undescribed species.

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