November Mothing - 2

Ten moths of interest attended the sheet on a balmy Saturday night. Six of those, a specific identification might not be possible because of insufficient research information on the Internet.

A number of Horehound Plume Moths (Wheeleria spilodactylus) were around as well.
(Click images to enlarge)

This is my first encounter with Opodiphthera eucalypti. This one is a male.

A bit weather-beaten, unfortunately.

Underwing shot.

SATURNIIDAE

Another Tiger/Footman. This one is Termessa sp. possibly T. zonophanes.

ARCTIIDAE : Lithosiinae

Here's a bit of a look at the hindwing and abdomen. This moth was roaring all over the sheet and took some time before it settled enough for a reasonable shot. I'm surprised this shot isn't one big blur!

This is a richly coloured example of Anachloris subochraria.

GEOMETRIDAE : Larentiinae

An Oecophorid. Probably Philobota species. There is a hint of a dark line along the costa but again, research information is sadly lacking to help with an accurate identification.

UPDATE: I've received advice this might be Philobota productella.

The others not appearing here were Geometrids. One was Idaea species, one Taxeotis, I suspect and three remain in the 'too hard file' ! :-)

November Mothing

A nice start to the month with a new species for me in the form of a Tiger Moth/Footman (Arctiidae)

(Click images to enlarge)

In this image, there is just a hint of a red hindwing.


This is one of my favourites, the Hawk Moth. Hippotion scrofa. My first encounter with this moth in February last year was with a darker specimen. They are nectar eaters and I am wondering if this one has been at my Jasmine which is in full flower! It had not elected to sit on the camelia. I wanted to check the hindwing colour (in this species, it's usually red) while it was resting on a timber beam but it wasn't in the mood for such an examination!
SPHINGIDAE : Macroglossinae


I'm almost certain this is Halone ophiodes. It is my first sighting of this moth. We've had some quite hot days over the past week which probably brought these two species into action.
ARCTIIDAE : Lithosiinae

August 2009 Mothing

Well, it might have something to do with the weather but moths are definitely on the wing this month. I think I heard a report that Victoria has had it's warmest August since records began or for a very long time. It's one or the other!


No. 1 is Uresiphita ornithopteralis. The common name is Tree Lucerne Moth but I am yet to find my Tagasaste trees showing any indication of caterpillar invasion since I began looking for this moth 12 months ago! I will inspect my neighbour's Broom plant shortly. Broom is another host plant, apparently.
CRAMBIDAE : Pyraustinae


No. 2 - Anachloris subochraria
GEOMETRIDAE : Larentiinae


No.3 Female specimen of Phrissogonus laticostata. Common name is Apple Looper.
I have observed No.2 and No. 3 flying about the same time previously.
GEOMETRIDAE : Larentiinae


No. 4. Agrotis munda showing white hindwing which apparently sets this moth apart from another very similar species, Agrotis radians. A. radians also has considerable white edging along the forewing veins and hingwing colour is buffish which darkens at the margin plus dark veining.
NOCTUIDAE : Noctuinae

July 2009 Mothing

Precious little mothing activity here during the month of July, but here are two interesting ones that came to the porch light. Both were approximately 2cm in length.

(Click images to enlarge)

Not absolutely sure about the first one, but it may be Nisista species

GEOMETRIDAE : Ennominae

UPDATE: Nisista serrata (Thanks Marilyn)

I have no idea what this one is! It could be something in winter clothes!

A Weevil?

For several weeks, I've noticed a squadron of these insects congregating under my porch light. I think they might be living under my woodbox, a recycled crate sitting on a couple of offcuts to keep it off the ground. By daylight, they have disappeared.

Body length would be about 8mm.

(Click to enlarge)


The closest I could come up with was a weevil thanks to Peter Chew's excellent site, Brisbane Insects.

Suggestions welcome, as usual.

June Moths

Winter is here and the moths have been few and far between. Here are a few that have landed on the porch wall. I may be insane, but not insane enough to sit under the clothes line observing a sheet slowly absorbing moisture from the cold night air! :-) My sheet and light have been packed away until September or October, depending on weather conditions.


No.1 Oxycanus antipoda again
Hepialidae


No. 2. I suspect this might be Tortricopsis species.
It was approximately 1cm in length.
Oecophoridae : Oecophorinae

UPDATE: I've been checking this moth again and I think it could be a species of Tortricid as the palps are projected directly in front of the head rather than sickle-shaped and/or upturned as with some Oecophorids.


No. 3. Capusa species - propably Capusa senilis again.
Geometridae : Ennominae



No. 4. This moths flopped in front of me as I was stalking fungi.
It could either be Psilosticha mactaria or Philotis cognata. I am
leaning towards the former because of the scalloped hindwings, which
is characteristic of Psilosticha mactaria.
Geometridae: Ennominae

UPDATE (11/1/11) this moth is identified as Ectropis fractaria.

Oxycanus antipoda (Hepialidae)

Well, I think this moth is Oxycanus antipoda!

Hepialids can be quite difficult to correctly identify without the beneift of years of experience and in some cases, a microscope! I was unable to be of much use to Denis when he called for identification assistance recently, but I guess that is part and parcel of the mothing game! We are learning together.

Back to Oxycanus antipoda. My moth was approximately 3.5cm in length. I photographed the same moth at the same time last year although we hadn't had rain for about 5 days. It rained yesterday, 47.5mm to be exact, but I have photographed Hepialids this year without a sniff of rain for a considerable time, so it appears rain is not necessarily the trigger for Hepialids to emerge from underground.

The common name for this moth is the Oxycanus Grub and the larvae feed on grasses.

More Hepialid photographs can be seen at Moths of Great Western.

(Click images to enlarge)

May Mothing

May mothing began rather dismally with cooler nights, cold winds and a damp sheet by about 9pm! However, there have been a few productive sessions. Here is a collection from a couple of reasonably good nights.


Click images to enlarge

Precious little about this moth on the internet
but I am pretty sure it's Cycloprorodes melanoxysta
GEOMETRIDAE : Ennominae


Fisera perplexata
GEOMETRIDAE : Ennominae

Capusa sp. I think Capusa senilis.

I photographed a caterpillar identified as

Capusa senilis in September, 2007, so I know

this one is around.

GEOMETRIDAE : Ennominae

Zyganisus caliginosus (Australian Goat Moth)

COSSIDAE : Cossinae

I'm not 100% sure but I think these two might

be Achyra affinitalis

CRAMBIDAE : Pyraustinae

Some April Moths

Plenty of mothing happened during most of April with the still and reasonably warm nights. All that might change if we receive the rain being 'promised'. We need it badly. To date, I have recorded just 1mm for the month.

Here are a few of the April moths.

More can be found at Moths of Great Western.

(Click images to enlarge)

ANTHELIDAE - Anthela denticulata


OENOSANDRIDAE - Oenosandra boisduvalii (Female)
Thanks Duncan! :-)


NOCTUIDAE : Hadeninae (Leucania) obumbrata
Thanks Marilyn :-)


This I believe is Fisera perplexata
GEOMETRIDAE : Ennominae


NOTODONTIDAE - Hylaeora dilucida (Female)
Thanks Wendy :-)

March Mothing

Here's a selection of moths that have come to the light during March.

More can be found at Moths of Great Western.

(Click images to enlarge)


OECOPHORIDAE : Oecophorinae
Garrha demotica



NOCTUIDAE: Amphipyrinae
Neumichtis nigerrima



TORTRICIDAE : Tortricinae
Meritastis pyrosemana

NOCTUIDAE : Amphipyrinae

Proteuxoa tortisigna

GEOMETRIDAE : Larentiinae

Chrysolarentia squamulata

NOCTUIDAE : Hadeninae

A richly coloured Dasygaster padockina

LIMACODIDAE

Doratifera casta caterpillars defoliating a young Eucalypt! 'Silver Princess' to be exact!!!