Commonia hesychima
| Commonia hesychima | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Notodontidae |
| Genus: | Commonia |
| Species: | C. hesychima
|
| Binomial name | |
| Commonia hesychima | |
Commonia hesychima is a species of insect.[1]
Description
The species presents an elongate, highly tented body profile punctuated by a thoracic crest. This may be raised to some prominence. Accentuating the body length are the front legs splayed forward of the head at rest. All of the legs possess especially thick scales giving over to a "fuzzy" appearance. In keeping with the family trait, the head is held down obscuring the 'facial' features. This 'charging bull' posture (as viewed head-on) is common to this family and many members of the Noctuidae. In colour, the forewings, thorax, and head are a mix of brown and grey shades. Individuals range from mostly a wet sand colour with minimal markings to those with dark charcoal markings against a neutral grey background. This background colour is heavily streaked with fine lenticular markings. Bolder markings express as several zig-zag edges with plainer fawn-coloured borders. These are key identification features. Four or five are present along the coastal margin of the forewing, although they may be obscured in worn specimens. A post-medial crossline, usually a charcoal grey, diagonally crosses from the inner wing margin to meet the tip of the forewing. The jagged trace of this crossline is a prominent feature of the forewing. The facial area typically follows suit, but scales off the palps and those of the forelegs can be snow-white in sharp contrast with the remainder of the moth. Ventrally, the abdomen and visible hindwings are unremarkable, presenting a plain sandy cream colour, if not paler. Confusing species: Formerly considered under the genus Destolmia, it occasionally is confused with Destolmia lineata, a common widespread species overlapping much of the range of C. hesychima. Note two or fewer costal zig-zag lines, and overall softer appearance.
Range
Based on The Atlas of Living Australia, the species has been recorded coast to coast from Perth to Sydney. It is a southern species, with all reports south of 30 deg. S latitude. An eastern group extends westward to Adelaide. Western reports are restricted to Western Australia. A recent photographic record (1 Oct 2021, iNaturalist) extends the eastern boundary in W.A. to the Fraser Range.
Habitat
The eastern cluster includes a concentration of sightings within the sandy and siliceous mallee and heathlands near Horsham, Victoria.
Ecology
While tolerant of a semi-arid climate, there are no other reports from between the western and eastern clusters.
Etymology
Taxonomy
Following the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and in agreement with the Australian Faunal Directory (Dec 2021).
- Order Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths
- Superfamily Noctuoidea Owlet Moths and Allies
- Family Notodontidae Prominent Moths
- Genus Commonia
- Commonia hesychima
- Genus Commonia
- Family Notodontidae Prominent Moths
- Superfamily Noctuoidea Owlet Moths and Allies
References:
- ↑ "Commonia hesychima". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
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