Large Emperor Moth
Syntherata janetta SATURNIIDAE
Family:- SATURNIIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Syntherata
Species:- janetta
Syntherata janetta SATURNIIDAE
This weeks blog was all ready to go last night when this moth hit our window.
A spectacular large moth with 100mm wingspan. The colour variations in the species range from yellow to purple/grey. You can see hints of this in the wing colour in the photos.
They seem to have been found on a large range of trees from unrelated plant families.
We don't get to see moths from Saturniidae very often because they have a limited life as adults. Their proboscis (feeding tube), is either undeveloped or missing and so they can't feed. They would only live a few days.
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Caloptilia xanthopharella GRACILLARIINAE GRACILLARIIDAE
Family:- GRACILLARIIDAE
Sub Family:- GRACILLARIINAE
Genus:- Caloptilia
Species:- xanthopharella
Caloptilia xanthopharella GRACILLARIINAE GRACILLARIIDAE
This second moth is at the opposite end of the scale in size. At less than 6mm it is easy to miss them. The larvae start by living between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves of the cheese tree, Glochidion ferdinandi (Phyllanthaceae). Later they progress to eating the surface of the leaves. Making a shelter by rolling parts of the leaf into a round cone shape. They pupate in this shelter.
Along with Saturniidae, this is another new family we have found here, bringing the total of
the moth families we have found on this 1 Hectare (2.5 Acre) lot to 39.
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