More Geometrid moths

Casbia rectaria CABERINI ENNOMINAE GEOMETRIDAE

 

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- ENNOMINAE
Genus:- Casbia
Species:- rectaria

 These moths have unusual markings on the forewing. They can vary from black or orange to creamy white and can at times be almost invisible due to loss of scales.
The most likely host tree here is the Alphitonia excelsa (Soap tree), which also hosts the larvae of the small but spectacular butterfly the Small Green-banded Blue (Danis hymetus). This is an excellent garden tree that is always full of insects and is a local native plant in this area.
Pomaderis lanigera is also said to be a host plant although probably more towards the coast.
Both plants belong to the family RHAMNACEAE.



This last moth is in the Casbia genus but may not be C rectaria. Next week I will add a number of photos from the Casbia genus showing the range we get here.




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Cernia amyclaria OENOCHROMINAE GEOMETRIDAE 

 

 Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- OENOCHROMINAE
Genus:- Cernia
Species:- amyclaria



The only mention of host plants is that they can be found on Gum trees.

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Continuing the Geometrid moths

Ectropis excursaria BOARMIINI ENNOMINAE GEOMETRIDAE

We are now getting into a series of moths that are very hard to separate by photographs alone.
Ectropis excursaria have been found to breed on a large range of plants. Further information can be obtained from :-  http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/enno/excurs.html

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- ENNOMINAE
Genus:- Ectropis
Species:- excursaria



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Scioglyptis canescaria BOARMIINI ENNOMINAE GEOMETRIDAE

This moth, like the one above, are sometimes called bark loopers. In this case one common name is Fuscous Bark Moth.
I had this one in the genus Boarmia which it used to be in but was moved to Scioglyptis.
Although not completely sure of the species identification I am reasonably sure down to genus.

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- ENNOMINAE
Genus:- Scioglyptis 
Species:- canescaria




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Family Geometridae

The Family Geometridae are often called Loopers or Inchworms, because their way of moving by bringing the back legs up to the forward end creating a loop, then stretching out with the forward portion. This has the advantage of being able to cover a greater distance quicker than walking.

Antictenia punctunculus OENOCHROMINAE GEOMETRIDAE

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- OENOCHROMINAE
Genus:- Antictenia
Species:- punctunculus

Anisozyga insperata GEOMETRINAE GEOMETRIDAE

NOTE the name change below.
The adults of the Genus Anisozyga are sexually dimorphic. That is, the males and the females look quite different. This photo is a female, the males being green with white markings.  In our case they are probably feeding on Angophora  (MYRTACEAE).

EDITED April 2019:- The accepted name for this moth is now Eucyclodes insperata

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- GEOMETRINAE
Genus:- Eucyclodes  was Anisozyga
Species:- insperata

Aporoctena scierodes ENNOMINAE GEOMETRIDAE

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- ENNOMINAE
Genus:- Aporoctena
Species:- scierodes





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Gelechiidae

continued

Hemiarcha tetrasticta GELECHIIDAE

 Family:- GELECHIIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Hemiarcha
Species:- tetrasticta



Positive identification of this moth is not certain. Although a reasonably good match from other photos, there is a lot of variation in the markings. Although we often see them here, most of the samples in collections seem to be taken in the far north tropics. This may simply mean no one has yet collect them here.


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Stegasta variana GELECHIINAE GELECHIIDAE

 

Family:- GELECHIIDAE
Sub Family:- GELECHIINAE
Genus:- Stegasta
Species:- variana

 As the species name suggests, there is some variation in the colouring and pattern of the wing markings. These photos match up well with other samples.
The larvae are said to feed on Senna bushes, Caesalpiniacea family and this is likely to be the host plant here.
  





 This concludes the photos of Gelechiid moths for the present. Looking through my files I still have hundreds of photos waiting to be identified and there are sure to be more to come.

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Gelechiidae

 The family Gelechiidae is one of around 17 members I have found listed
from the super family Gelechioidea.
They are small, with a wingspan around 10 to 12mm. They have sharp sickle shaped upturned labial palpi and simple antennae.
There are about 800 recorded species in Australia.




Family:- GELECHIIDAE
Sub Family:- ANACAMPSINAE
Genus:-  Chaliniastis
Species:- astrapaea

Family:- GELECHIIDAE
Sub Family:- GELECHIINAE
Genus:- Macrenches
Species:- clerica

Family:- GELECHIIDAE
Sub Family:- GELECHIINAE
Genus:- Macrenches
Species:- eurybatis










The main visible difference between the last two is that M. eurybatis has cream wings with a dark stripe and M. clerica has white with a dark stripe.

Family:- GELECHIIDAE
Sub Family:- BRACHMIINAE
Genus:- Anaptilora
Species:- homoclera









All these moths are easy to overlook on the window at night. They generally fold their wings close to their bodies making a slim form around 5mm long.

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Hellula Species CRAMBIDAE

 Hellula hydralis GLAPHYRIINAE CRAMBIDAE

Family:- CRAMBIDAE
Sub Family:- GLAPHYRIINAE
Genus:- Hellula
Species:- hydralis








A small common moth on the east coast. The larvae are pests on Brassicaceae and are particularly bad pests on Canola.

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 Hellula undalis GLAPHYRIINAE CRAMBIDAE

Family:- CRAMBIDAE
Sub Family:- GLAPHYRIINAE
Genus:-  Hellula
Species:- undalis









Less common than Hellula hydralis (above). They also feed on Brassicaceae, eating out the growing centre of the plant.

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Hednota bifractellus

 Hednota bifractellus CRAMBINAE CRAMBIDAE

Family:- CRAMBIDAE
Sub Family:- CRAMBINAE
Genus:- Hednota
Species:- bifractellus

This is another grass moth. Common down the east coast of Australia. The larvae are likely to live silk galleries in or around the grasses which may include Lomandra species. We have quite a lot of Lomandra so it is likely to be the larval food here.

 

 

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