Acontia species ACONTIINAE NOCTUIDAE

Before I start, I would like to point out that a synonym for Acontia is Tarache. So far as I can find, the preferred name is Acontia and the synonym is Tarache, but Tarache this is still used as the genus on a number of sites.
These moths are also very variable in colour and pattern. The result is that I am unable to be sure of the identification of any of these moths, however, since the aim of this blog is a visual list of the moths on our place just outside Toowoomba I still think it is worth putting them on the blog with the names that I think they are, and maybe someone in the future will be able to improve on my efforts.

 Acontia clerana ACONTIINAE NOCTUIDAE

 Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACONTIINAE
Genus:- Acontia
Species:- clerana (Possibly)

I think this is still the same species despite the differences.













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 Acontia detrita ACONTIINAE NOCTUIDAE

 

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- ACONTIINAE 
Genus:- Acontia
Species:- detrita (Possibly)

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Below are the Acontia moths that are likely to be in this area.
Acontia clerana
Acontia crocata  (possibly too tropical for us)
Acontia detrita (Sometimes referred to as Acontia clarissa )
Acontia elaeoa
Acontia nivipicta

There were some other species listed but were under the genus Tarache and listed as synonyms of the species in the list above.

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Achaea janata EREBINAE EREBIDAE

Achaea janata EREBINAE EREBIDAE

(Was Achaea janata CATOCALINAE NOCTUIDAE)
The larvae feed on a large variety of plants and are considered a pest on the ones that are agricultural
crops. Some of the the most likely plants in this area are:-
 Macadamia Nuts (PROTEACEAE), Roses (ROSACEAE), Acacia species (MIMOSACEAE), Hoop Pine (ARAUCARIACEAE), Castor Oil Plants, (Ricinus communis (EUPHORBICEAE )), and Eucalyptus trees.

Family:-  EREBIDAE
Sub Family:- EREBINAE
Genus:- Achaea 
Species:- janata

The caterpillar photo was not taken on our property but on a private property nearby.



The moth to the left shows a slight difference in colouring.

Remember that the classifications for Noctuoidea have changed and I am now using the later classifications as shown in the blog for Wednesday, 31 May 2017.

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Achaea serva EREBINAE EREBIDAE

( Was Achaea serva CATOCALINAE NOCTUIDAE)

Similar plant selection to the A.janata in our area, Castor Oil Plant ( Ricinus communis,
EUPHORBIACEAE ), and  Roses ( Rosa, ROSACEAE ) being the most likely. Because we don't have Caster Oil Plant on our place, and we no longer have roses so this moth is a rare visitor.

 

Family:-  EREBIDAE
Sub Family:- EREBINAE
Genus:- Achaea
Species:-  serva


















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Stigmella Sp. NEPTICULIDAE

As you can see from the photos, this moth is tiny. The letters "a" and "r" are about 1.7mm.
From the written descriptions that I have, there are two Stigmella species that fit the description of this moth. Many of the moths in this family have a lighter wing colour and the band across the fore wing is yellow, where this moth has darker wings and a shiny white band.
The moths of the family NEPTICULIDAE generally have a wing span of 3 to 6mm.
The larvae appear the be found on a wide variety if plants. The moths of this family are also common in many other parts of the world.

Family:-  NEPTICULIDAE
Genus:- Stigmella
Species:- 

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Photographing the undersides

Hypodoxa erebusata GEOMETRINAE GEOMETRIDAE

It is important to photograph the undersides wherever possible.
It has taken some time to find the identification of this moth. One of the notable features is the "S" mark on both the forewings and the rearwings. There are a number of species in the Geometrid moths that have a similar marking and also are sufficiently similar to this moth to make identification difficult if looking at the upper surface only.

It was not until I came across an underside photo (BOLD systems) that I was able to separate the species. Unfortunately the sample photo did not have the wings fully spread, so some of the detail is missing, and there is still a little room for doubt, but I am confident the there is a sufficiently close match.

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- GEOMETRINAE
Genus:- Hypodoxa
Species:- erebusata

underside of  Hypodoxa  erebusata








It is likely that the larval food plant is Eucalyptus.

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