Tussock moths & others to keep at genus level

Webpage describing Tussock moths
http://hkmoths.ihostfull.com/ere/lym/lymantriinae.html

Tips:
Tribe Nygmiini includes the Artaxa, Euproctis, Nygmia, & Orvasca species. Great confusion in this tribe.
Artaxa (faintly marked small yellow moths): Mostly keep at genus level

Orgyia postica (Cocoa tussock moth) vs. Dasychira chekiangensis (Zhejiang Tussock moth): The lines around the "eye" pattern in the center of the wings pulls in and becomes narrow in O. postica as it reaches from the costa to the body; in D. chekiangensis it is more even / straight (if the lines are visible at all). (Thanks to @cosmophasis) (also see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12281403 )

Sexual dimorphism in D. chekiangensis .

Others:

Arctornis: At least 12 species in HK but you can't tell them apart by looking; keep at genus level. (see comments at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17744371)

Carriola ecnomoda: Sexual dimorphism. Also, all HK ones need to be changed to Carriola seminsula! (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/23100844)

Abraxas: "there are 2 species of Abraxas currently known from HK but they cannot be identified by field observation - they need to be chopped :-( Sadly the markings are not an accurate way of identifying to species level." https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12352632

Euteliinae: this subfamily "is called "turn-tails" - due to the peculiar manner in which the abdomen is held when the moth is at rest." https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183867

Posted on 24 April, 2019 11:56 by eekb