New Site #6

The last mothing session for the year took place in the bush block on a perfect night, warm and calm. As usual, things were quiet for the first half hour or so after the light was switched on at 9pm, daylight saving makes for late nights. Gradually then, moths started to arrive with the Pink Arhodia, Arhodia lasiocamparia coming in in unusual numbers over the next couple of hours, females and males.

Female.

Male.

Two species of twisted moth, the Grey Twisted-moth, Circopetes obtusata, female,

And the Marbled Twisted-moth, Parepisparis excusata, male.

More than one of each came in, the night was looking good. Anthelids were numerous, mainly Anthela repleta, with only one from the acuta complex seen.

Anthela repleta.

Another Geometrid, Capusa senilis, with wings spread to show the diagnostic terminal dark bands on the hind wings..

A Noctuid, common at this time of year, Diatenes aglossoides.

And another, the Brown Praxis, Praxis porphyretica.

To be continued.

The Batwing Moth #2

In the garden there is a Eucalyptus parramattensis, commonly known as the Parramatta or Drooping Red Gum. It has quite fine foliage that is attractive to eucalypt grazers, and it is checked on a regular basis to see what is at home. On this occasion a chance glance upwards resulted in the discovery that the foliage is relished by the Batwing Moth larvae, three were in a group, with another on a nearby branch. That brings the known tally to six, it seems the population is expanding.