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Wednesday 31 August 2016

More Cleora moths

Cleora sabulata ENNOMINAE GEOMETRIDAE

 

This moth is probably another example Cleora sabulata following on from last week.
 


Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- ENNOMINAE
Genus:- Cleora 
Species:- Possibly sabulata




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Cleora injectaria ENNOMINAE GEOMETRIDAE 


This moth matches up well on the wing patterns compared to other identified photos from reliable sources, but the host plants mentioned are predominately mangroves. We are no where near mangroves, the nearest being about 150 Klm away. One other host plant mentioned, the Excoecaria ( EUPHORBIACEAE ), does exist in this area but not on our property. The other alternative is that there is another host plant that has not yet been identified, that we may have.


 Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- ENNOMINAE
Genus:- Cleora
Species:- Possibly injectaria

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Rhuma subaurata GEOMETRINAE GEOMETRIDAE

 

This moth has been included this week because it is superficially like the Cleora species but belongs the sub family GEOMETRINAE. It is a quite spectacular moth but is not very common here. 



Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- GEOMETRINAE
Genus:- Rhuma
Species:- subaurata

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Wednesday 24 August 2016

Alucita phricodes revisited

 This moth was covered in a previous page, (see Alucita phricodes ALUCITIDAE Wednesday, 7 October 2015). These photos are a bit better than the previous ones.
It is a bit earlier than we normally see them. Normal is late October through to about March.


Family:- ALUCITIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Alucita 
Species:- phricodes




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Geometridae, Cleora Moths


The genus Cleora has a number of moths that look very much the same in wing patterns. In some cases, the identification is a "best guess", when compared to a number of other identified images.
The forewings often have a light circle in the middle of the wing towards the forward edge of the wing.



 Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Cleora
Species:- sabulata



 Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Cleora
Species:- displicata






 Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Cleora
Species:- perlepidaria






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Wednesday 17 August 2016

Early spring

The moths are starting to think it is spring, with a few new moths coming to the windows at night.
There are plenty of new shoots on most of the plants and no doubt the larvae are out there eating and developing.

Eccymatoge aorista LARENTIINAE GEOMETRIDAE

Eccymatoge is sometimes spelt Eucymatoge


 Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- LARENTIINAE
Genus:- Eccymatoge
Species:- aorista




The entry below was edited 15/10/2017 

Eccymatoge Poss morphna LARENTIINAE GEOMETRIDAE



Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- LARENTIINAE
Genus:- Eccymatoge 
Species:- Sp Possibly morphna

Edited 15/10 2017 I previously thought this was E. aorista but now believe it to be E. morphna



The markings on the wings can vary quite a lot.

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Ardiosteres moretonella PSYCHIDAE

The moth larvae of the Genus Ardiosteres have been found living in ants nests. There are a number of moths and butterfly larvae that manage to have a relationship with various ant species and use the ants for food and protection and in return, in some cases at least, they excrete a sticky fluid that the ants eat.
Moths of the Family PSYCHIDAE are case moths.



Family:- PSYCHIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Ardiosteres
Species:- moretonella



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Wednesday 10 August 2016

Grey Twisted Moth

Circopetes obtusata OENOCHROMINAE GEOMETRIDAE

(Sometimes called  Grey Twisted Moth.)




Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- OENOCHROMINAE
Genus:- Circopetes 
Species:- obtusata




This is one of a group of moths that distort their bodies and wings, it is believed to be in an effort to disguise their outline by altering their bilateral symetry, and avoiding detection by preditors.
The newly hatched larvae are said to have fed on Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), but there is not a lot of information on their life cycle and so Gum trees may not be the only food source.
The top side wing patterns can vary quite a bit, while the underside are a bit more regular.
Wingspan is about 60mm.

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Chrysolarentia subrectaria XANTHORHOINI  LARENTIINAE GEOMETRIDAE

(Sometimes called Straight-lined Carpet Moth)



Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- LARENTIINAE
Genus:- Chrysolarentia
Species:- subrectaria





I was not able to find any details of the life cycle.
Wingspan as it is in the photo is about 16mm.

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Wednesday 3 August 2016

Emeralds, Geometridae

Many of the Chlorocoma moths are said to breed on Acacia (MIMOSACEAE).

Chlorocoma melocrossa GEOMETRINAE GEOMETRIDAE



Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- GEOMETRINAE
Genus:- Chlorocoma
Species:- melocrossa




Chlorocoma stereota GEOMETRINAE GEOMETRIDAE

 


 Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- GEOMETRINAE
Genus:- Chlorocoma
Species:- stereota






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