With some species of moth it seems that males are the ones that  are attracted to the light, with females rarely showing up. It has been that way with the Helena Gum Moth, Opodiphthera helena, only males have flown in, with a female never observed until recently. While checking the garden after gale force winds, a chance glance at the ground came up with the goods, a very tattered female clinging to the grass.  Her abdomen was distended suggesting she was full of eggs, so she was carefully moved to the Omeo Gum, a tree that has been popular with moth larvae, in the hope that she would lay. She was there for two days and then disappeared, time will tell if larvae appear on the scene.

A chance look outside on a rainy night was rewarded with the sight of lots of moths on the wing around a flowering Callistemon. It was too wet for the camera, so the next night saw the camera and flashlight on the prowl. In addition to the Callistemons, three species of Leptospermum are in blossom and providing nectar, although macrocarpum was the only one popular with moths. Most of the moths partaking were Noctuids with a few small Geometrids also on the scene. It was good to see a Bogong Moth, Agrotis infusa fuelling up for its flight into the mountains, let’s hope it is successful and there are more.

Caught this Southern Armyworm, Persectania ewingii excreting a drop of clear liquid.

Australian Armyworm, Mythimna convecta.