Christmas post 2015

                                                                LYMANRTIIDAE Possibly Acyphas Sp

Obviously this photo uses a little digital trickery. The right half is the original photo, including the reflections, and the one on the left is a mirrored copy. I hope you like it.

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 Metopiora sanguinata HADENINAE NOCTUIDAE

The moth, Metopiora sanguinata, below is not a fake. They breed on grasses and are fairly common at times in the northern and eastern parts of Australia. Leaving some grass un-mown around the yard certainly increases the chance of seeing them, as with all the grass moths.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- HADENINAE
Genus:- Metopiora
Species:- sanguinata

This is the last post for 2015 and I will be back in the New Year.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and remember, January is usually a bumper month for moths.

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The final SPHINGIDAE family (Hawk Moths)  photos

 This week is the last of the Hawk moths photos. I have put them together over the last few weeks to make it easier to compare for identification.

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










Theretra tryoni larvae are said to feed on Araceae family of plants including the native cunjevoi (Alocasia macrorrhizos) and arum lilly (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

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










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Moving on from Hawk moths,

Ophiusa tirhaca CATOCALINAE NOCTUIDAE

 Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- CATOCALINAE
Genus:- Ophiusa
Species:- tirhaca










 One common name I came across for Ophiusa tirhaca, was "Drab Green moth". Maybe the sample moth was a bit on the old and faded side.
 In Australia the larvae have been found on mango flowers and mistletoe, in other parts of the world they have been found on plants from the family Myrtaceae. For more plants see the web site  http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/calp/tirhaca.html



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Family SPHINGIDAE (Hawk Moths) continued

Continuing on from last week, here are a few more from the family SPHINGIDAE.
 



Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- MACROGLOSSINAE
Genus:- Gnathothlibus
Species:- erotus Sub Species Eras












Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- MACROGLOSSINAE
Genus:-  Hippotion
Species:- celerio

Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- MACROGLOSSINAE
Genus:- Hippotion
Species:- scrofa

Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- MACROGLOSSINAE
Genus:- Macroglossum 
Species:- hirundo sub species errans

Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- SPHINGINAE
Genus:- Psilogramma
Species:- Sp Poss menephron







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 Family Sphingidae (Hawk Moths)

 

                                                                                      Agrius convolvuli

Hawk moths tend to be large moths. In this area around 100mm wingspan is generally what we find.
They are fast flying streamlined moths capable of hovering before a flower, extending the proboscis to drink nectar.

This is usually fairly quick and easy to miss but is quite spectacular to see.
The hind wings are often brightly coloured. The larval food plants are varied and in some cases the larvae are considered a pest on crop plants.

In some cases it can be hard to identify the moths to species level from photos alone, because the can vary in wing patterns.

Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- SMERINTHINAE
Genus:-  Coequosa
Species:- australasiae

Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- SPHINGINAE
Genus:-  Agrius
Species:- godarti

Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- SPHINGINAE
Genus:- Agrius  
Species:- Sp

Family:- SPHINGIDAE
Sub Family:- SPHINGINAE
Genus:- Agrius 
Species:- convolvuli



I will put some more Hawk moth photos on next week.

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