Nearcha dasyzona (Lower, 1903)
Grey Nearcha
 (formerly : Taxeotis dasyzona)
DESMOBATHRINAE,   GEOMETRIDAE,   GEOMETROIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley


female
(Photo: courtesy of Peter Marriott, Moths of Victoria: Part 4)

The adult moths are pale brown with vague variable dark markings, often including a dark dog-leg line across each forewing. The males have a pale hair tuft along the underside of each hindwing costa. The females have thread-like antennae. The males have bipectinate antennae. The wingspan is about 2.5 cms.


male
(Photo: courtesy of Marilyn Hewish, Moths of Victoria: Part 4)

The wings of the males have specialised tufts of scales on the underside of each hindwing beside a dark spot near the base.


male, underside
(Photo: copyright of Brett and Marie Smith, at Ellura Sanctuary, South Australia)

The species has been found mainly in the dry inland regions of Australia, in

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • Victoria,
  • South Australia, and
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Oswald B. Lower,
    New Australian Lepidoptera.,
    Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia,
    Volume 27 (1903), pp. 185-186.

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria: Part 4,
    Emeralds and Allies - GEOMETROIDEA (B)    ,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2012, pp. 14-15, 18-19.

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    (updated 30 June 2013, 15 October 2025)