Spring 2022

A mild night with a light sprinkle of rain saw the light shining for the first time this spring. A reasonable number of moths came in from the garden and beyond, with an unusual number of carrion beetles, Ptomaphila lacrimosa also on the job. The most numerous species were Spilosoma curvata and Melanodes anthracitaria, several of each coming in. Following is a selection of the night’sĀ  visitors.

The Chevron Cutworm, Diarsia intermixta.

The Australian Cabbage Looper, Chrysodeixis subsidens.

A spectacular little Oecophorid, Arachnographa micrastrella, first for the site.

The Cream Wave, Scopula perlata, a strongly marked individual.

The Pome Looper, Chloroclystis testulata, white-patched form.

The Black-banded Wedge-moth, Capusa senilis.

The Streaked Notodontid, Destolmia lineata.

The Ring-tipped Bark Moth, Syneora hemeropa, male. When Moths of Victoria Volume 7 was published, Victorian specimen data numbered just three. Since that time males and females of the species have come to the light from the garden, suggesting that there is a resident population. A bush record has also been made recently.

Recount.

Another check under the Snowy River Wattle while gardening revealed a lot more empty Oxycanus australis pupa cases than first noted three weeks ago, and after being collected the number came to a rather astonishing seventy five.

As mentioned in the previous post the larvae feed on acacia roots, and as can be seen in the first picture they certainly haven’t botheredĀ  the shrub that continues to bud up and thrive and put on new growth at the base after being cut back.