This will be the first in a series on Ennominae moths detailed in Volume Seven of Moths of Victoria, with the majority from the tribe Boarmiini. As the name suggests, the colours and patterns resemble tree bark, enabling them to blend into backgrounds and escape detection by predators. Moths from twenty two genera will be included, photographed mainly in local forest sites during the last ten years. To begin, an image of a female Sinister Moth from the native garden. Like a number of species, males are most often to the light, females less so. The larvae feed on the foliage of a variety of trees and shrubs.
Pholodes.
The Sinister Moth, Pholodes sinistraria, female.
Male.
Gastrinodes.
The Buff Bark Moth, G. bitaeniaria, male.
Female.
Euphronarcha.
The Striated Bark Moth, Euphronarcha luxaria, male.
Female.
Boarmiini.
MOV species 1, male.
(Selidosema)
For more information on the status of these two moths and the above please refer to MOV Volume 7.
The Uniform Bark Moth, (Selidosema) agoraea, male.
Female.
The Clouded Bark Moth, (Selidosema) thermaea, female.
Click to enlarge,
References and further reading,
Moths of Victoria Volume 7.
To be continued.