![]() | Ruby Anthelid S1, Male, dorsal | Ruby Anthelid S3, Male, dorsal | ![]() | |||
Class: | Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) | ||||
Order: | Butterflies & Moths (Lepidoptera) | ||||
Family: | Anthelid Moth (:Bombycoidea Anthelidae) | ||||
Species: | Ruby Anthelid (Anthela rubeola) | ||||
This Photo: | S2, Male, dorsal | ||||
General Species Information: Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere Head & body ~20mm, wingspan ~60mm. While called "Ruby" these can be anything from pale brown through to ruby. Their legs & palps always seem to have ruby highlights, regardless of wing colour. While males & females have bipectinate antennae, the females have much smaller pectinations. As is typical, the female bodies are much larger (longer & wider) than the males. We never saw one until May this year and suddenly we've found around 20 males coming to night lights through June & July. | |||||
| |||||
|