Dry Dry Dry
Although we had some rain recently, the number of moths on the windows at night have reduced to only a few moths where in a good season we get many many hundreds of moths coming to the light at night. This is the second year we have had such low numbers.I was therefore surprised a couple of days ago to find that there were three new species in the 10 or so moths on the window.
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ROESLERSTAMMIIDAE
NOTE:-
Edited February 28th 2018. Thanks to Nick (see comments below), I am now able to put a name to this moth.I previously wrote:-
"This first one I have not been able to identify. I have spent a great deal of time searching and I am still not even sure which family it belongs in. It looks as though it should be in one of the Gelechioid families but they usually have sharp up pointing palpi. For a tiny moths this one has quite large thick palpi held horizontally in front of its face."
So the name is:-
Family:- ROESLERSTAMMIIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Vanicela
Species:- xenadelpha
The overall length was around 5mm.
After having been pointed in the right direction by Nick, the first moth I looked at was actually a sample that had been collected in Toowoomba.
This is also another new species and another new family for this place.
Thanks Nick
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Neogyne Sp ENNOMINAE GEOMETRIDAE
Edited:- Feb28 2018
I initially thought this one might belong in URANIIDAE.Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- ENNOMINAE
Genus:- Neogyne
Species:- elongata (probably)
The species is quite variable but once again with the help of Nick (who uses the name Dustaway on Flickr) I think it is most likely N. elongata
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I will try to remember to put the third one on next week.
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Hello Don
ReplyDeleteJust started reading your blog abd found it very interesting, I would like your help with indentification so I will email you a picture.
Thanks
Hi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing the photo. Don
Don, the first one is in the Roeslerstammiidae: Vanicela xenadelpha. Has a very neat pose indeed, eh.
ReplyDeleteI found one in the dry rainforest near my place, and like you, struggled for an ID until a Kiwi friend helped out:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50615476@N03/37242204511/in/album-72157686551098230/
Here it is in the ANIC :
http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=326675
The Geometrid is likely Neogyne elongata, seems to be widespread and variable
regards Nick
Thanks Nick,
DeleteI don't think I would have found the Roeslerstammiidae. That is another new family for this place too. I also thought that the Neogyne was elongata, but as you say they are variable, however I think you are correct and will edit the post.
Many thanks, all help is welcome.
Don