Peaked Cape-moth
S9, Adult Male, Antenna
Ellura
Peaked Cape-moth
S3, Adult Male, Hindwings
 
                 
Peaked Cape-moth (Amelora ceraunia)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: Butterflies & Moths (Lepidoptera)
Family: Geometer (Geometridae:Ennominae:Nacophorini)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Peaked Cape-moth (Amelora ceraunia)
This Photo:     S2, Adult Male, Crest

Thank you Jason Van Weenen (JVanWeenen) for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
Head & body ~12mm, wingspan ~25mm. Males have very long bipectinate antennae, while females have filiform. Notice here the antennae can look very uni-pectinate. However, this is purely photograph angle and it's surprising how well an entire row of pectinations can be hidden by the thin main antennae stem.
Also notice how the antennae can look as though there's a clear thin membrane between the pectinations. This isn't the case, but fine hair-like scales emminating from the pectinations.
Very similar to Ribbon Cape-moth (both the forewing lines & DNA on Bold). These also have a crest which isn't normal for Amelora.
They have a discal spot and vary greatly in darkness. This is not gender variation.

Similar Species: Ribbon Cape-moth (Amelora belemnophora)

Copyright © 2018-2026 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 17-May-2018
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.