Some Summer moths

 These first two moths, although they are regular visitors they tend to come in late summer. They have a range of larval food plants but are also a known pest on cotton crops.

Earias smaragdina CHLOEPHORINAE NOLIDAE

Family:- NOLIDAE
Sub Family:- CHLOEPHORINAE
Genus:- Earias
Species:- smaragdina










Earias huegeliana CHLOEPHORINAE NOLIDAE

Family:- NOLIDAE
Sub Family:- CHLOEPHORINAE
Genus:- Earias
Species:- huegeliana










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Philobota Sp OECOPHORINAE OECOPHORIDAE
The Genus Philobota has over 200 described species in Australia. The ones below are difficult to identify because many different species have very similar wing markings.

Family:- OECOPHORIDAE
Sub Family:- OECOPHORINAE
Genus:- Philobota
Species:- Sp









Philobota Sp Poss stenophylla OECOPHORINAE OECOPHORIDAE

Family:- OECOPHORIDAE
Sub Family:- OECOPHORINAE
Genus:- Philobota
Species:- Sp Poss stenophylla








The moths in the photos this week are all in the range of 10 to 15mm from head to the end of the wings.  Where they are on fly screen, the mesh is 2mm and you can estimate the length from that.

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Graphic moths

Spilosoma canescens ARCTIINAE ARCTIIDAE

Some moths are colourful while others are camouflaged and many are dull grey and brown. There are also many moths that have strong graphic designs on their wings, sometimes, as is the case with Spilosoma canescens, they can have strong colours on rear wings and bodies. In this case the legs and the top side of the abdomen are bright red and some red around the neck and head. They have been found feeding on numerous common plants. Further details from Australian moth site listed in the right hand side of this blog.

Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- ARCTIINAE
Genus:- Spilosoma
Species:- canescens











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Thalatha guttalis ACRONICTINAE NOCTUIDAE

 

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACRONICTINAE
Genus:- Thalatha
Species:- guttalis










Thalatha guttalis is very common around our area. I have not been able to find what the larval food plant is.

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Thalatha melanophrica ACRONICTINAE NOCTUIDAE

 

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACRONICTINAE
Genus:- Thalatha
Species:- melanophrica











This moth doesn't have such a strong graphic in the photo but the green colouring doesn't tend to show up until it is photographed, so visually, seems to be more black and white to the naked eye. Once again it is probably due to the reflective qualities of the scales as I have covered in previous articles.

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3 New moths, one new family

Although I have been photographing moths here, at all times of  year, for a number of years we are still getting new species coming to the windows at night. This week there are 3 new moths that I have not see before, and one of those is the first I have seen in the family YPONOMEUTIDAE.

Cardamyla carinentalis PYRALINI PYRALINAE PYRALIDAE

 

Family:- PYRALIDAE
Sub Family:- PYRALINAE
Genus:- Cardamyla
Species:- carinentalis






According to "A Guide to Australian Moths" (Zborowski and Edwards 2007), they were illustrated feeding on Cassine australis (Celastraceae) Red Olive Plum. This is the most likely plant in our garden for them to be feeding on. Further information on the attractive plant from the "Toowoomba Plants" link in the right hand margin. Enter the name in the search box at the top of the page.

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Etiella Sp Possibly zinckenella PHYCITINI PHYCITINAE PYRALIDAE

 

Family:- PYRALIDAE
Sub Family:- PHYCITINAE
Genus:- Etiella
Species:- Sp Poss zinckenella



















Many of the species of Etiella are difficult to tell apart using a photo. Many of the photos on reliable sites are of moths specimens in poor condition so the species identification for this moth is uncertain.
The moths of Etiella are pests on Legumes especially Lucerne seeds also peanut, soybeans and peas.



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 Yponomeuta paurodes YPONOMEUTINAE YPONOMEUTIDAE

 

Family:- YPONOMEUTIDAE
Sub Family:- YPONOMEUTINAE
Genus:- Yponomeuta
Species:- paurodes



I have one reference of Yponomeuta paurodes feeding on Cassine (CELASTRACEAE) and another on  Red Olive Berry ( Elaeodendron australe, CELASTRACEAE ).
This is the same plant family as Cardamyla carinentalis moths above.

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The benefits of a little rain

We have been getting regular showers of rain over the last month or so. Not huge amounts, but enough to keep the plants putting out new shoots. A few warmer nights and there are more new moths appearing.
The first this week, Problepsis sancta STERRHINAE GEOMETRIDAE,  was on the window last night. Unfortunately,  because I take all the photograph of live moths, I was not able to get an underside photo. It flew off when the flash was fired.

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- STERRHINAE
Genus:- Problepsis
Species:- sancta





The next one below was also on the window last night, but I have added a couple of other species from the same genus for comparison.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACONTIINAE
Genus:- Acontia
Species:- detrita

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACONTIINAE
Genus:- Acontia
Species:- elaeoa

The two photos above, I believe are
Acontia elaeoa ACONTIINAE NOCTUIDAE
The one to the left I also have named Acontia elaeoa but I am not sure that is correct. I can't find a better match.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACONTIINAE
Genus:- Acontia
Species:- elaeoa (possibly)











 Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACONTIINAE
Genus:- Acontia
Species:- nivipicta




There are many more examples at :-
http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/TaxBrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=113

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