Geometrid Moth

Yes, we have recorded it for the Eternity. However, there is NO info about Scipoglyptis externaria, nada! So I suggest we keep it more superficial: Ennominae, cf. unplaced externaria. I guess as a Ranger I can give that OK for once ;-)... Special cases need special deals.

It's hard to suggest how to handle the name. The ALA classification is based on the Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) - http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Unplaced_externaria/checklist The AFD treatment for the Boarmiini (the tribe in Ennominae to which this belongs) includes many species listed under Unplaced genus. The problem is that many of these species were described under northern hemisphere genera and do not necessarily fit in current concepts for those genera. The best suggestion I can make is to go with Scipoglyptis externaria, since Scoble in 1999 placed it at least provisionally there in his book, Geometrid Moths of the World. Of course I make no guarantee that my photographs (on which this id is based) are definitely this species. Information on this group in Australia is limited. That was the best I could assign it to. Best wishes, Donald

Thanks a lot, Donald!! I am happy that I was with my Ennominae not so far out of the row ;-)... What would you now suggest for the ID of this one? Tephrosia externaria? Tephrosia cf. externaria? Or what else?

This is indeed clearly Geometridae: Ennominae. As noted below, the challenge is working out which one. I remember having great difficulties with the moth I saw at Burrill Lake. After checking specimens in the Australian National Insect Collection and looking at what literature I could find, I decided that Tephrosia externaria was the closest. In fact this species has been placed in various genera - Hypomecis externaria and Scioglyptis externaria. It currently appears in the ALA unplaced as to genus - http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:801dd5d5-759f-464a-b7d2-6b662ffabbbe In other words more work needs to be done on these moths. Cathy Young at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery does work on Australian Geometridae, but I'm not sure how much she has looked at the Ennominae.

Maybe you can try to get in contact with dhobern, he is quite an expert. If you try to google Tephrosia you only got trees and no moths ;-)... And the missing 30% is exactly the problem with all these Geometridae!

I give you a little bit more of my time... Geometridae, Ennominae, Tephrosia externaria. Please, verify! I only have found one specimen from Canberra. The allover phenotype looks quite fine for Tephrosia externaria, some of the markings are more faint or stronger in yours, but in the ones from dhobern as well. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tephrosia_externaria.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/2910355789/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/25401497@N02/6820234387 http://www.flickr.com/photos/25401497@N02/6820235207 Now you maybe can hunt for another one ;-)...

Oh, I am sure you will have found that one like me, but now the troubles starts... Which Ennominae?? That's the hard part of the game and be careful! There are some Larentiinae which looks very similar. I think the genus should be possible to get and maybe even the species. I am sorry, I am too busy to help out at the moment. I only have time for dummy IDs ;-)...

Geometridae, Ennominae, I would say.