Tufted Bark Moth
S2, Male, profile closeup
Ellura
Tufted Bark Moth
S1, Male, Abdomen, dorsal
 
                      
Tufted Bark Moth (Lipogya leucoprosopa)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: Butterflies & Moths (Lepidoptera)
Family: Geometer (:Geometridae Ennominae Boarmiini)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Tufted Bark Moth (Lipogya leucoprosopa)
This Photo:     S1, Male, anterior

Thank you Marilyn Hewish for identifying and 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
~12mm head & body length, with approx 22mm wingspan.
Most interesting with this species is the raised scale tufts behind the head. Almost impossible to see in dorsal view without a flash reflecting off them. The flash shows them to be metallic and a dark gold colour. In some views it appears to be a single horn, but elsewhere you can see it's two distinct tufts leaning toward each other. As the smaller scales wear down, the tufts become more visible.

Copyright © 2017-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 12-Sep-2017
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.