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Tuesday 17 March 2020

Theretra oldenlandiae

Theretra oldenlandiae MACROGLOSSINAE SPHINGIDAE

I found this caterpillar on our drive way but I have never identified the moth here. I think this is the fifth and final instar of the moth and it was probably looking for a place to pupate.
The moths are very similar to the Theretra margarita but have a double stripe down the abdomen rather than the single stripe of T. margarita.

An article on the T. oldenlandiae moth can be found at:-
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/sphi/oldenlandiae.html

And a photo of T.margarita in on this Blog on Wednesday, 16 December 2015.





 Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- MACROGLOSSINAE
Genus:- Theretra
Species:- oldenlandiae


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Thursday 12 March 2020

Phalaenoides glycinae

Phalaenoides glycinae AGARISTINAE NOCTUIDAE

Just as I had given up trying to identify a moth for the Blog, this one landed in the garden.
They are an agricultural pest on the grape vines ( Vitis vinifera, VITACEAE ) but also feed on other plants.
It is likely that our Shining Grape, (Tetrastigma nitens  VITACEAE), which is a native grape vine, would be the larval food source if it is breeding here.
The moths can be found from Southern Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
This one is a ragged around the edges of the forewing.






Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- AGARISTINAE
Genus:- Phalaenoides
Species:- glycinae












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