Author: Pholodes

Moths By Day And Night.

Found around the house and garden during the daytime, and to the moth light at night.

Neumichtis nigerrima, (Amphipyrinae) is one of the many Noctuids that are agricultural or garden pests. This one was found and photographed on the verandah tiles

The front verandah is also a location where resting Ectropis moths are quite often found. This individual is quite worn with many of the distinguishing features faded but the dip in the hind wing line suggests that it is Ectropis bispinaria, (Boarmiinae)

Spectrotota fimbrialis, (Pyralidae) is abundant, this was a nice specimen on a tree trunk.

Also found on a tree trunk, this nicely marked small  moth for the time remains anonymous.

Disturbed while gardening this moth was very elusive and only one photo was taken when it landed on a persoonia. It is Tortricopsis pyroptis, (Oecophoridae)

Also anonymous for now this tiny but colourful Oecophorid found nectaring on a Xerochrysum.

The Heliotrope Moth, Utetheisa pulchelloides, (Arctiinae) can migrate south in big numbers. Just two came to the light, the second shot while fluttering shows the hind wings.

February and March are the main flight months for Elhamma australasiae, (Hepialidae) They can come to the light in large numbers, plain females and smaller patterned males.

Female.

Male.

February.

With nights becoming cooler, home moth activity is much reduced, and it is also possible that the climatic conditions that have possibly caused a noticeable lack of butterflies could also be a factor. Very few moths of any size came to the light, the best being this nice male Circopetes obtusata, (Oenochrominae) living up to its common description of a twisted moth.

This Dysbatus sp(1), MOV 5, (Nacophorini) settled on the concrete and was lucky to escape being trodden on. The colour and pattern of this moth is quite a bit out of the ordinary.

Diatenes aglossoides, (Calpinae) is a common moth in season and can often be found resting in sheltered positions on house walls.

Another common moth is the Australian Native Budworm, Helicoverpa punctigera, (Heliothinae)
It is an agricultural pest with the larvae feeding on a large range of plants.

Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta, (Amphipyrinae) is strikingly marked, the larvae are grass eaters.

Quite a number of Spectrotrota fimbrialis, (Pyralidae) came in, varying in appearance.

Thallarcha chrysochares, (Lithosiinae) is known as the Tiger Footman, this is a nice female.

The larvae of this small timber moth, Tymbophora peltastis, (Xyloryctidae) feed on gumleaves.