Some day flying moths

Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- ARCTIINAE
Genus:- Nyctemera
Species:- amicus
Nyctemera amicus is often seen flying and feeding during the day but will also come to light at night.
The larval food plant is Senecio a native daisy, and article on this plant is at :-

http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/search?q=Senecio









          Left, showing the smaller  white spots on the rear wings.








                                                                                

Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- ARCTIINAE
Genus:- Nyctemera
Species:- secundiana
Nyctemera secundiana is similar to Nyctemera amicus but has different wing markings, particularly the white dot on the rear wing is larger and it also has some different markings on the forewings. Although quite common around here it is not as common as N. amicus.   

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- AGARISTINAE
Genus:- Cruria
Species:- synopla
Cruria synopla AGARISTINAE NOCTUIDAE
Another day flying moth, fairly common at our place, is Cruria synopla. A moderately large moth that breeds on Cissus spp. (Native Grape or Watervine). In our case the Watervine is probably what they breed on.
Once again the  "toowoombaplants" blog site mentioned above has an article of a couple of local species.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- AGARISTINAE
Genus:- Agarista
Species:- agricola

Another day flying moth in this area, Agarista agricola is commonly called Joseph's Coat Moth or Harlequin Moth. The Agarista agricola are known to breed on Cissus spp.
At least six species of Hawk Moths are also known to breed on the same plant species.

Changing colours

Family:- Noctuidae, Genus:- Speiredonia

    Moth scales can be hair-like (piliform), or flat (lamellar) which are layered.
    In some moths, the pigment which gives the colouring is secreted between the layers. In other moths the scales are reflective and produce the colours by diffraction of light.
    The examples below of Speiredonia spectans (common name "Granny's Cloak Moth"), and Speiredonia mutabilis, show a variation of colour depending on the angle of the camera to the  light source. In general, when you see the moths in daylight they are tucked into a corner around the house or a shed and look dark brown.
    In the third photo some variation can be seen between the left and right wings.














Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- CATOCALINAE
Genus:- Speiredonia
Species:- spectans



Below is the photo of Speiredonia mutabilis showing a more pronounced colouring

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- CATOCALINAE
Genus:- Speiredonia
Species:- mutabilis

Family Noctuidae, Genus Grammodes

Here are three moths that look similar. They are from the same genus and are all fairly common here. They come readily to UV light.
There are 10 Australian species of Grammodes (I.F.B. Common, Moths of Australia, 1990).

  Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- CATOCALINAE
Genus:- Grammodes
Species:- justa













Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- CATOCALINAE
Genus:- Grammodes
Species:- ocellata













Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- CATOCALINAE
Genus:- Grammodes
Species:- pulcherrima

Trigonodes hyppasia

Another common moth here, Trigonodes hyppasia is often seen during the day hiding in long grass.
There are 2 Australian species that look very similar.
I have only seen the one below, Trigonodes hyppasia here.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- CATOCALINAE
Genus:- Trigonodes
Species:- hyppasia

The changing names of moths

Identifying the moth below I came across a common problem.
I found a good example in the colour photos in the book "Moths of Australia" by I.F.B. Common (1990), and he identifies it as Narycia trifasciana PYRALIDAE. Most of the other sources that I use for identification do not recognise that name.

The Natural History Museum in the UK shows it as a valid name but since the results are from scanned card files, they may not have updated the name, and they do not have a picture or illustration of the moth to compare with.

Morwell National Park Online, has a picture that is very similar to my photo and it is named Lepidoscia characota, Atlas of Living Australia also has a similar moth, so this may be the correct species name now.

Unlike people looking up plants where it is relatively easy to find name changes, I have not been able to find a comprehensive list of name changes in moths. No doubt one exists somewhere.
So for the time being I will say it is Lepidoscia, possibly characota species, previously Narycia trifasciana, and maybe in the future I will be able to get confirmation.

Family:- PSYCHIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Lepidoscia
Species:- characota (possibly)
Probably previously known as Narycia trifasciana

Scale tufts

As you can see from the selection below, some moths have tufts of scales that can be quite decorative. Some can also have tufts of scales on their on their abdomen and, particularly in the family NOLIDAE, have scale tufts on their wings.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- PLUSIINAE
Genus:- Chrysodeixis
Species:- unknown

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- PLUSIINAE
Genus:- Othreis ( Eudocima )
Species:- fullonia
It appears to have two currently accepted names for genus.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- PLUSIINAE
Genus:- Plusiodonta
Species:- arctipennis

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- PLUSIINAE
Genus:- Thysanoplusia
Species:- orichalcea

Family:-  NOLIDAE
Sub Family:- NOLINAE
Genus:- Nola
Species:- epicentra

Note the light brown tufts on the wings.

Family:- NOLIDAE
Sub Family:- SARROTHRIPINAE
Genus:- Ochthophora
Species:- sericina

Edit:- July 2018. This moth is now known as
Ochthophora sericina ELIGMINAE NOLIDAE

Family ARCTIIDAE

Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- LITHOSIINAE
Genus:- Asura
Species:-  cervicalis (possibly)

The larvae of moths of the family ARCTIIDAE, sub family LITHOSIINAE mostly feed on lichens, though sometimes mosses or algae. Often brightly coloured in combinations that include  black, yellow, orange and red. There are about 200 species described in Australia.











Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- LITHOSIINAE
Genus:- Termessa (possibly)
Species:- Zonophanes (possibly)

Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- LITHOSIINAE
Genus:- Heliosia
Species:- jucunda

Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- LITHOSIINAE
Genus:- Termessa
Species:- conographa

Family:- ARCTIIDAE
Sub Family:- LITHOSIINAE
Genus:- Termessa
Species:- conographa

Left:- Pale version

Family COSMOPTERIGIDAE

 Family:- COSMOPTERIGIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Pancalia (possibly)
Species:- unknown








Although the above photo is not particularly good, I have included it because it is the only photo I have of this species.
The family Cosmopterigidae mainly feed on Acacia and over the last few years some of our wattles have died and have not yet been replaced. No larval food plant means no moth.
The wingspan of the Cosmopterigidae family is listed as between 6 and 32 mm, generally the ones I see here, are around 6mm body length so a wing span of around 12mm.
As with all members of the Superfamily Gelechioidea, they have sharp, strongly upturned labial palpi. These are the sharp "tusks" just visible over the top of the head.

Family:- COSMOPTERIGIDAE
Sub Family:- COSMOPTERIGINAE
Genus:- Limnaecia
Species:- unknown

Family:- COSMOPTERIGIDAE
Sub Family:- COSMOPTERIGINAE
Genus:- Limnaecia
Species:-  tetraplanetis

Family:- COSMOPTERIGIDAE
Sub Family:- COSMOPTERIGINAE
Genus:- Macrobathra
Species:- bigerella