Author: Pholodes

Oxycanus australis.

Flight records for this Hepialid are from March until June, with May the main month, and right on cue, on a night with light rain, about a dozen came into the house lights. After photos the lights were extinguished to allow them to go about their business of putting the next generation into production. Australis is very similar to dirempta, but can be identified by the longer rami on the antennae, up to three times the width of the shaft. (MOV 6)

Female.

Males.

The larvae feed on the roots of acacias, five species of which are garden subjects. A search for empty pupa cases under the acacias revealed that the Snowy River Wattle, Acacia boormanii was the host, a rough count coming to twenty five.

Case beside exit hole.

Autumn 2022 #4

A session at home on a mild night saw the Heliotrope Moth, Utetheisa pulchelloides come to the light in abundance.

Geometrids were scarce with just one Crypsiphona ocultaria, and one Emerald, Chlorocoma carenaria coming in, and later, two Thalaina selenaea also joined the party.

Veined Emerald, Chlorocoma carenaria

Orange-rimmed Satin Moth, Thalaina selenaea.

Two Pink Browntail Moths, Urocoma baliolalis came in, and interestingly, played dead when we attempted to move them to more photogenic positions for snaps.

A small variety of Noctuids were the other most numerous, with one most uncommon species, a pristine Thysanoplusia orichalcea the highlight. This goes by the common name of Slender Burnished Brass, and with the torch light illuminating the moth at the right angle, the hind wings shone like polished metal. Unfortunately this did not appear in the many lateral photos taken, but the dorsal view gives a glimpse of the metallic wing marking. MOV 9 notes that the first Australian records were from Queensland and NSW in the mid 1970s, and it has since gradually spread south. Also noted is that the metallic wing scales change in colour from gold to green depending on the viewing angle.