This genus of attractive moths in the Notodontidae has eight representatives in Victoria, five named, and three to which names cannot be confidently applied, they are designated sp. (1), (2), and (3) in Moths of Victoria Vol. 2 second edition, and of the eight, six have come to the light locally.
Of the other two, E. melanosticta is of more northerly distribution, and sp. (3) is alpine. In my reference, MOV Vol. 2, they are divided into two groups, white-winged and dark-winged. The larvae feed on plants in the Myrtacaea, eg. eucalypts, callistemons, leptospermums, kunzea, etc.
My first encounter with the genus was in April 2008, when a female E. melanospila came in soon after I became interested in moths, the female is significantly different to the male, below.
Species (1) and (2) are also in the white-winged group, sp. (1) was photographed in tall forest by Gladstone Creek south of Mount Moornapa in April 2012, and sp.(2) in the same location in April 2016. Both are male moths.
Species (1)
Species (2)
First in the dark-winged group is Epicoma contristis, The male was recorded in box/ironbark bush at Glenmaggie in March 2016, and the female with the smaller antennae at Holey Plains State Park in January 2014. Note the diffuse dark area around the yellow discal spot.
Epicoma tristis is a similar moth but the dark area around the discal spot is more compact, and the antennae are larger and more spectacular. Both males were recorded in Providence Ponds Reserve in November 2013.
Thirdly in this group is Epicoma pontificalis, in March 2016 several females came to the light at Providence Ponds in taller stringy forest on the eastern boundary track.
Identification of these moths can be tricky, MOV 2 is the essential reference, the MOV series is the source of all names used in these posts.
Thanks also to P Marriott for information and identifications.
Click images to enlarge.
