4th Ladybird Species

..........and possibly a 5th! :-)

These are far from good images, taken one-handed as I tried to steady the parsley flower heads against the constant wind yesterday. I wanted some sort of 'recognisable' images for my records, because these tiny beasties might not be around when the wind eventually abates.
Both species approximately 2.5 to 3mm (maybe!)

The first 2 photos I believe may be of Diomus notescens or the "Minute Spotted Ladybird"
Family: Coccinellidae
(Click to enlarge)




This one is taken against my hand. Blame the wind for that! :-)
I "think" it might be Archegleis sp. There is so little information about distribution and approximate size out there, I am guessing with this one. It was about the same size - maybe a bit smaller than Diomus notescens.


Family: Coccinellidae

3rd Ladybird Species

Hippodamia variegata - the Spotted Amber Ladybird or White Collared Ladybird.

Although a native of Europe, this is a very useful pest control agent. Tests have been carried out to determine the benefit of this species to the horticultural industry, particularly greenhouses, as a biological control for aphids, mites, thrips and whitefly.

These ones (and there were several) were on my parsley which, as you will note, is going to seed! :-)

I've set myself a task to search for and photograph other ladybird species in the garden this year.

(Click to enlarge)




Score-card so far:-

Family: Coccinellidae:

Harmonia conformis
Cocinella transversalis
Hippodamia variegata

Heteronympha merope

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to pay a visit to the small block of remnant vegetation about 2 minutes walk from my house. I had a plan to undertake some arachnid stalking. Spiders were a bit thin on the ground! Well, there were webs but no residents I could see!

Anyway, there were a few Common Brown butterflies flapping around plus a couple of day-flying moths.

I managed to sneak up on this butterfly after several aborted attempts to get any photos, particularly ones with the wings open! :-)

The butterflies were doing what this species does at this time of the year - flying close to the ground and occasionally landing, opening and closing the wings a couple of times then off again.

I think this one might be a male.

(Click to enlarge)

December Mothing (1)

It was sheer good fortune I was able to photograph this Cossid late last night. I turned the porch light on as I went outside and this moth was straight in, hammering the fluorescent light. It took some time to settle long enough for me to take a couple of photos.

It was a soft grey colour with intricate patterning on the wings. There is also a hint of rust brown towards the base as well. As it was flying against the light, the wings looked lacey.

I'm going out on a limb and speculatively identify it as Endoxyla sp! :-)
(Click to enlarge)




I will be watching for more Cossids from now on.

A Couple of Spiders

At last, the weather has begun to warm up again after a few cold week or so.

These two spiders are taking advantage of the porch light to do some easy hunting.

(Click to enlarge)


This little lady paid me a visit as I was sitting outside observing moth activity on Tuesday night.

She's very similar in colour and body shape to the Little Striped Wolf (Lycosa furcillata) but much larger. Around 2cm from head to tail so I suspect she is Lycosa sp. possibly godeffroyi, (Garden Wolf) which are widely distributed.



Another Huntsman. The little arrow on this shot is pointing to some staining on the jaw hairs. Probably gravy! :-)

Thanks to some outside expert assistance, I now have a fair idea as to the correct identity of this particular species I'm encountering frequently here.

Isopeda leishmanni

November Mothing Page 2

Last night was hot and humid so it would have been a pointless exercise going to bed at my normal time.

It was worth staying up late, listening to the Senate Question Time on the ABC while outside enjoying the night air! :-)

(Click images to enlarge)

No. 1. A common moth but I have not had the opportunity to photograph it till last night. Ochrogaster lunifer (the Processionary Caterpillar/Bag Shelter Moth) if I am not wrong and they can be quite variable in colour.

NOTODONTIDAE : Thaumetopoeinae

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More Don't Knows

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No. 2 was small - about 1cm

UPDATE: Order Tineidae (probably)

No. 3

This moth was larger.

Probably an Oecophorid. Possibly Agriophara sp.

No. 4.

Sort of looks like it has slightly hooked wingtips and measuring about 2.5cm

Probably a Geometrid

UPDATE: Geometridae : Oenochrominae - Taxeotis sp. Could be T. intextata

No. 5

About 1cm in length

UPDATE: No. 5 is the male form of Light Brown Apple Moth

Tortricidae: Epiphyas postvittana. (Thanks for your help, WM)

No. 6

Small moth.

No. 7 was a bit bigger

I'm not sure if this is a another Tortricid or not.

The palps do seem to be pointing forward in front of head and it does look a bit bell-shaped.

Perhaps this moth is the female Light Brown Apple Moth

Tortricidae: Epiphyas postvittana

A Big HELLO.......

........from Vic. to Tas. :-)

Couldn't have Mosura's Ladybird getting lonely!

This one was trundling around on my wall the other day. I actually moved it to my standard roses where it could perform its little functions in a familiar environment!

Don't you just love 'em!

(Click to enlarge)


Order: COLEOPTERA
Coccinella transversalis

November Mothing - Page 1

(Click images to enlarge)


No. 1 Phalaenoides glycinae (the Vine Moth)
ORDER: NOCTUIDAE



No. 2. Pretty sure this is Agrotis infusa (the Bogong) - in my haystack! :-)
ORDER: Noctuidae




No. 3 is a better shot of Monopsis ethelella
ORDER: Tineididae

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The 'I don't knows' :-)
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No.4. 1cm length
UPDATE: I've been going through the Leaf Rollers and Bell Moths (Tortricidae) trying to identify a moth I photographed last night (11/11)
I wonder if Moth 4 is a Tortricid?




No. 5 (Possibly another Noctuid)
Length - 2.5cm
UPDATE: Having gone through the slim information available on the Net, as a result of a tipoff from Mosura, I think this moth is probably Agrotis porphyricollis
NOCTUIDAE : Noctuinae



No. 6. Just over 1cm in length
Is this one a Tortricid as well?




No. 7 - 2.5cm in length

UPDATE: Thanks to info from Mosura - this moth could be Leucana stenographa
NOCTUIDAE : Hadeninae

Last Of The October Moths

(Click to enlarge)


More than likely Philobota sp.
Oecophoridae : Oecophorinae


No idea! :-)
It was a small moth, however. Probably less than 1cm in length.

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)