Xyloryctidae (family)

WendyM's farm at Freshwater Ck.

Xyloryctidae (family) at WendyM's farm at Freshwater Ck. - 6 Dec 2022 09:50 PM
Xyloryctidae (family) at WendyM's farm at Freshwater Ck. - 6 Dec 2022 09:50 PM
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Identification history

Xylorycta (genus) 23 Jun 2024 ibaird
Xyloryctidae (family) 22 Jun 2024 donhe
Xyloryctidae (family) 22 Jun 2024 ibaird
Xylorycta leucophanes 21 Jun 2024 WendyEM

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4 comments

donhe wrote:
   22 Jun 2024
Legs etc do not look very yellow ?
WendyEM wrote:
   22 Jun 2024
Why does it need yellow? BOLD images don't show yellow legs etc. Description, reproduced here https://xyloryctinemothsofaustralia.blogspot.com/search?q=Xylorycta+leucophanes does not mention yellow only fuscous (= dark gray or grayish brown) As another desc. quoted says "The adults of several shining white species are difficult to distinguish. These include X. leucophanes Low. from western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, ........ (Common, 1990). " Maybe Common's desc. was what suggested this sp. to me.
ibaird wrote:
   22 Jun 2024
I agree its probably Xylorycta genus. but I'm not sure which one of 25 named species several of which are quite plain and silvery white and look similar to this one. X.. leocophanes on iNaturalist and the ALA seems to have yellowish legs, white labial palps with black tips. and blackish antennae. X. leocophanes set specimens on BOLD seem to show a fine black costa near the base of the foreing. I'm not sure from the photos, does your specimen have white labial palps with black tips?
WendyEM wrote:
   22 Jun 2024
Yes it is best called Xylorycta sp. All white specimens in other genera have different wing etc shape. I don't know where iNat gets some IDs from. The original description says "Anterior and middle legs black, beneath white; posterior tibiae and tarsi pale-greyish-ochreous, slightly infuscated. " so one pair of legs may have yellowish colour. Also "Palpi above white, second joint beneath fuscous, except towards base."

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Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size
  • Alive / healthy Animal health

Species information

  • Xyloryctidae (family) Scientific name
  • Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Minor weed or pest
  • Up to 764.5m Recorded at altitude
  • Machine learning
  • External link More information

Record quality

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  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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