Swift and Ghost moths (Hepialidae)

Discussion

ibaird wrote:

5 Dec 2024

I don't see and 'eyespot' as in A. ocellatus, a WA species The male antennae strongly suggest A,.(Trictena) atripalpis to me based on MoV Part 6. 'Art is in the eye of the beholder'

Abantiades atripalpis

donhe wrote:

5 Dec 2024

On the forewing, there is a picture of swirling water with a fish with a white pointed nose, a white back, a brown striped belly, and a half -shut blue eye.
No eye on A. atripalpis.

Abantiades atripalpis

WendyEM wrote:

5 Dec 2024

a W.A. species. What eyespot?
I can't see the issue with calling this Abantiades (Trictena) atripalpis on the basis of Moths of Victoria Pt. 6. This would fall into the "Smaller reticulated form:- males with dark antennae" CD p. 4-5

Abantiades atripalpis

WendyEM wrote:

5 Dec 2024

I was going by the species Axel Kallies et al listed in Moths of Victoria Pt. 6 and Abantiades argentata is not one of them. This does not entirely rule it out. If I am reading it right BOLD has moved many of the 'Abantiades argentata ' specimens to other species (many to A. atripalpis) based on DNA. BOLD map shows the remaining A. argentata specimens (which I cannot find images of) came from central Aust (S.A.) and coastal S.A. Moths of Victoria uses Trictena atripalpis which I assume is Abantiades atripalpis in this nomenclature. Moths of Victoria says the antennae of males are bifurcated on one side. This is not clear in this specimen but is is here Sighting 4624220 recorded - same spot, same night. Axel does say that Trictena atripalpis involve 2+ species requiring more study.

Abantiades (genus)

WendyEM wrote:

5 Dec 2024

Oxycanus are much bigger (see the scale in book of Moths of Vic Pt6 for the different genus) This is a smaller Hep (Fraus) sitting on flywire. Some F. simulens are almost plain (see MoV Pt 6 CD pages)

Fraus simulans