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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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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