- Apr 15, 2018
Updated: Feb 9
After many weeks with very little moth activity at night, the last bit of rain (5mm here) has caused a rash of interesting creatures coming to the kitchen window- lacewings, green and brown, moths ranging in size from 4mm up to the whopping Ghost Moth (Trictena sp) at 95mm and click beetles of different sorts. Although these moths were photographed during the day, they are night-flying and come readily to a light source.
Many of our moths and other insects have no common names and there are many species still to be discovered and described.
I photographed the Toothed Anthelid Moth- Anthela denticulata on the windowsill at home- the beautiful antennae indicate that this is a male
Another stunner is Thalaina clara-Blotched Satin Moth- with its silky white wings and orange and black lattice pattern. Its underwings are also silky white with two large blotches of black and orange,hence the name.
Another moth wearing the white,orange and black livery is Utetheisa pulchelloides, a Noctuid Moth with no common name that I could find.
- Mar 30, 2018
Updated: Feb 9
Autumn is here- and so is Boisduval's Autumn Moth- Oenosandra boisduvalii(Family Oenosandridae, super family Noctuiodea)) Only seen during Autumn, this handsome moth rests on fly wire screens and is very happy to have close inspection and photos.
Playing dead is a tactic used by this moth to avoid predators.
Night-flying, these interesting moths come readily to light. The white ear-tufts are a give-away identification and the wings are beautifully mottled with orange and black speckles. The antennae are held back along the wing edges and are difficult to see. This moth hears through thoracic hearing organs- that is,ears in its chest!
24 cm in length, these moths are thought to feed on eucalypts. This is an all-Australian family with 8 named species. All photos taken on 29th March 2018, Carapooee West, Victoria.
Updated: Feb 9
Surveys commenced again in late April 2013.
The last 3 months of 2012 recorded only 43mm while the first 4 months of the year 2013 recorded only 27mm of rain resulting in complete lack of eucalyptus flowering across a wide area and a failure of various wattle species to flower properly and set seed.
Final Report for Permit No: 10006285
Carried out by members of St Arnaud Field Naturalists Club Inc.
Location: Stuart Mill Nature Conservation Reserve, centred on Rostron Rd. Period: 30th April 2013- 30th November 2013
