Capers In Town

Not many, but more than last year!

I saw my first Caper White for the season on the 27th October.

Last Thursday, I saw 3 or 4 busy feeding on a Hebe (Wiri Mist)

These butterflies are migratory, temporary visitors to Victoria and other southern states. They seldom breed outside their normal breeding range unless they find suitable host sources.

Main larval host plant is Capparis sp.

Belenois java
PIERIDAE : Pierinae

(Click images to enlarge)

Lacewings (and Friend!)

Here are some insects coming to the light during my mothing adventures.

Order: NEUROPTERA

(Click images to enlarge)


I think this is an Owlfly. If it's not an Owlfly, then it has to be an Antlion! :-)
It was 3.5cm in length.

UPDATE: This is an Antlion. Thanks to 'outside help'. I appreciate the correction.

ORDER: Neuroptera
Family: Myrmeleontidae

I think this is one of our native cockroaches.

Order: BLABERIDAE

October Mothing 3

Last night was reasonably active with conducive weather conditions - and I stayed up late! :-)

The majority of moths were small - around 1cm to 2cm in resting position. Some appearing here are duplications, but I will record the sightings anyway.

I have some homework to do (read 'assistance required') and will update as identifications are confirmed.

My little pal was back! This is a better photo of Wheeleria spilodactylus.
Pterophoridae.

(Click images to enlarge)


I'm not sure about Moth No. 2.
It might be a Gelechiid.
Ardozyga chionoprora is known to be in Western Victoria.

UPDATE: Philobota agnesella.

Oecophoridae : Oecophorinae

I suspect Moth No. 3 might be Idaea sp - possibly I. eretmopus.
Geometridae : Sterrhinae



Moth No. 4 I think may be a Crambid. This family has apparently been moved from the Pyralids!

Maybe Schoenobiinae sp?
Tipanaea patulella perhaps?
Crambidae : Schoenobiinae



I have no idea what Moth No. 5 is!
It was quite small. Less than a cm.

UPDATE No. 2: This is Monopis ethelella
TINEIDAE


Moth No. 6 has been photographed by others recently, I think.
I'll see if I can determine species.
This was the largest of the moths I saw last night.
It was on the ceiling in my laundry!

UPDATE: This moth is possibly Persectania sp.

Might be P. dyscrita (Inland Armyworm)

NOCTUIDAE : Hadeninae

UPDATE 2: Persectania ewingii.

Apparently on the wing of P ewingii there is a pale line in the shape of a dagger with a short "handle" across the centre

October Mothing - 2

What a surprise last night! This moth came to the porch light.
I nearly missed it altogether. It was so white, it virtually disappeared into its surroundings. The photo is not particularly good because it was shot white on white and also the moth was a bit fidgety.

I think it's a Plume Moth but exactly which one of the order Pterophoridae it is remains unknown.

It measured about 2.4cm wingtip to wingtip.

UPDATE: A bit of research has been undertaken and it's possible this Plume Moth is Wheeleria spilodactylus which was introduced from Europe to control the weed Horehound.

(Click images to enlarge)


Not sure about this one. It might be Hednota sp. It was about 1.5cm in resting position.
Crambidae : Crambinae


I'm off to check moth No. 3.
Wingtip to wingtip, it measured around 2cm.
Another Geometrid perhaps.



UPDATE: It's possible this moth is a variation of Scopula perlata.
Geometridae : Sterrhinae

So far this season, I have photographed two similar yet different forms of the moth pictured above. I will put them all together on their own page shortly.

Tobacco Looper

NOCTUIDAE
Plusiinae

I found this moth yesterday afternoon when I returned home from an Agricultural Show.

I'm pretty sure it is Chrysodeixis argentifera. The tell-tale silver "S" on the wing separates it from a similar Chrysodeixis species.

Now I might know one of the cuprits making holes in my Silver Beet!

Caterpillars of this moth also feed on canola, beens, sunflowers and tomatoes and has a bit of a reputation as being an agricultural pest.

The moth measured about 2.4cm in resting position.

It can be found all over Australia, including Tasmania.

(Click images to enlarge)

Duncan has a photo of this moth in his "October Moths" gallery.

Shields Up!

I prefer to call them Shield Bugs rather than Stink Bugs! :-)

Anyway, I found these two sunning themselves on Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood) last Wednesday. I enjoy finding them around October each year. Their colouring interests me.

These two may be the same species although there is a bit of a difference in antennal markings.

I think these Shield Bugs are probably Oncocoris sp. Hemiptera : Pentatomidae.

(Click images to enlarge)

Junonia villida

(Meadow argus)

This is a common butterfly but I rarely see them here. Perhaps this season will be different. Although this one has seen better days it let me take this photgraph as it was sunning itself.



So far this year, I've seen a handful of Cabbage Whites, one or two Australian Painted Ladies, one Yellow Admiral and several sightings of Red-spotted Jezebel or Wood White. These gliding butterflies are one of my favourites so you can imagine how peeved I was when sitting off a Wood White yesterday as it inspected some mistletoe in my Melaleuca. It was on about the 4th or 5th lap of the tree when I suspect a rotten little Willy Wagtail whacked it! :-( It looked pretty guilty to me - sitting on my house power line licking it's little lips! Besides, I heard that 'snap'!!

And guess what! That Wagtail is expecting more to arrive! It's on constant patrol of the general location! Nothing to do with the fact that it may well have a nest in the vicinity. No, this Wagtail just wants to ruin my day!

Mean little bird! :-)

October Mothing.....

.....has been abysmal; a non-event for me to date. It's either been too cold to sit outside or too windy to put the sheet up! :-(


I've seen several examples of this moth in the mornings under my verandah roof.

(Click to enlarge images)

I have absolutely no idea what it is. It's measuring around 3 to 3.5cm wingtip to wingtip.

I'd imagine it's a Geometrid of some sort. I have noticed it does hold its wings upright (like a butterfly) for short periods but then assumes the wings outstretched against the substrate position typical of Geometrids.

Mosura, Duncan - any ideas?

I'm Confused.......

......but I bet this invertebrate knows exactly which family it belongs to!

It looks as though it should be Cerambycidae sp (Longicorn) except for two small issues. The dark tufts on 2nd antennal segment and an apparent lack of antennal spines.

It measured approximately 3cm. Perhaps a little over.

Anyone know what it is?

(Click to enlarge)


UPDATE: I've just come up for air having gone through A to Z of a massive Cerambycid database but found no Longicorns with antennal tufting like this one. I wonder if the tufts are temporary, seasonal?

It's possible my Longicorn might be Cnemoplites edulis (Newman) commonly known as the Mallee Witchetygrub - but then again! They both seem to have a similar dorsal stripe but antennal segments might not be quite right.

I might see if the Museum of Victoria can offer a suggestion. :-)

'I Didn't Do It!'

'Honest Injun' !!



Nothing would eclipse The Duncan Factor with his image here, however - this Salticid was feeding on the Huntsman when I sprung it this afternoon. By the time I'd grabbed my camera and returned to the scene of the crime, I found the Salt offering sympathy rather than exhibiting it's true motivation!

(Click image to enlarge)


(Salticid yet to be identified. Possibly Servea sp.)