Desert Nearcha Moth
S4 Male, diagnostic tuft
Ellura
Grey Nearcha Moth
S1, Male, dorsal
 
                      
Desert Nearcha Moth (Nearcha aridaria)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: Butterflies & Moths (Lepidoptera)
Family: Geometer (:Geometridae Oenochrominae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Desert Nearcha Moth (Nearcha aridaria)
This Photo:     S4 Male, ventral

Thank you Prof Victor W Fazio III† for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
Head & body ~11mm, wingspan ~27mm.
As with all Nearcha's, the males have bipectinate antennae while females have filiform.
It's possible we have found females but not been able to id them. Nearcha's are very variable and only the males have the under-hindwing tufts to differentiate them. If we post any females, they'll be estimates based on patterns. We won't post any females unless we find a male; proving that species is at least found on Ellura.

Copyright © 2018-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 18-Apr-2018
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.