Thanks Martin, I found it late yesterday and had forgotten to update
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February 2016 - Yorkeys Knob, Australia (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dom F
- Start date
Thanks Martin, I found it late yesterday and had forgotten to update
Thanks again Martin. Had not found this one. Will look properly on the laptop in the morning but it certainly looks good time on my phone screen.
Well February is shaping up to be possibly my best month trapping ever, it has slowed slightly the last couple of days as the moon is growing and there are no clouds at the moment but we are due to have another burst of rain in the next ten days or so we may get overcast nights again before long. This is set to be a monster update with nine posts so it may take some time to upload!
Should also add that these are just the obvious highlights - there are dozens of species that I have not even looked at yet as well as three days that I have not started on!
Syntherata janetta (Saturnidae) - the commonest Saturnid in my garden, it is also extremely variable. I caught both these colour forms on the same night.
Milionia queenslandica (Ennominae) - quite possibly the most stunning moth I have ever caught
Should also add that these are just the obvious highlights - there are dozens of species that I have not even looked at yet as well as three days that I have not started on!
Syntherata janetta (Saturnidae) - the commonest Saturnid in my garden, it is also extremely variable. I caught both these colour forms on the same night.
Milionia queenslandica (Ennominae) - quite possibly the most stunning moth I have ever caught
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Nephele subvaria - male and female (Sphingidae) - the male has the bold white stigmata on the forewing. An understated but very attractive species that seems to be quite widespread but never common.
Theretra silhetensis (Sphingidae)- the last of the small Theretra species with white lines on the abdomen.
Theretra nessus (Sphingidae) - a much larger and very distinctive species of Theretra
Oxyodes scrobiculata (Catocalinae) - pair!
Theretra silhetensis (Sphingidae)- the last of the small Theretra species with white lines on the abdomen.
Theretra nessus (Sphingidae) - a much larger and very distinctive species of Theretra
Oxyodes scrobiculata (Catocalinae) - pair!
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Agathia distributa (Geometrinae) - a new species for me this week
Agathia lycaenaria (Geometrinae) - another new species for me this week.
Mixocera latilineata (Geometrinae) - normally this small Geo has two white lines across the forewing, but this does seem to match specimens in BOLD.
Eudocima fullonia (Catocalinae) - a slightly battered female
Eudocima salaminia (Catocalinae) - a new species of Eudocima for me; most of the photos I have seen do not show the green flush as well - in set specimens the green fades and is lost.
Agathia lycaenaria (Geometrinae) - another new species for me this week.
Mixocera latilineata (Geometrinae) - normally this small Geo has two white lines across the forewing, but this does seem to match specimens in BOLD.
Eudocima fullonia (Catocalinae) - a slightly battered female
Eudocima salaminia (Catocalinae) - a new species of Eudocima for me; most of the photos I have seen do not show the green flush as well - in set specimens the green fades and is lost.
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Amerila timolis (Arctiinae) - my first Amerila species for the year
Asota heliconia (Aganainae) - the commonest Asota species that I catch
Asota orbona (Aganainae) - no where near as common as heliconia, this is the first I have seen for a few months
Grammodes justa (Catocalinae) - one of five similar species of Grammodes that I have caught this month. Gr. justa is the only one of this group of similar species that does not show the eye in the corner of the forewing
Grammodes oculata (Catocalinae) - this species has the ey but lacks a line going from the eye to the apex of the wing, the line going around the eye is distinctive
Asota heliconia (Aganainae) - the commonest Asota species that I catch
Asota orbona (Aganainae) - no where near as common as heliconia, this is the first I have seen for a few months
Grammodes justa (Catocalinae) - one of five similar species of Grammodes that I have caught this month. Gr. justa is the only one of this group of similar species that does not show the eye in the corner of the forewing
Grammodes oculata (Catocalinae) - this species has the ey but lacks a line going from the eye to the apex of the wing, the line going around the eye is distinctive
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Achaea janata (Catocalinae) - an extremely varied species, the commonest Achaea that I catch in the garden.
Allata indistincta - male and female (Notodontidae) - I first caught this earlier this month and since then have seen several. The female is the one with the bold white on the leading edge of the wing, this male shows the refelctive patches on the wings better than my earlier specimen
Anomis flava (Catocaliae) - one of a pair of similar Anomis (the other being An. lyona), this is the commonest Anomis in the garden
Athyrma subpunctata (Catocalinae) - I had only caught this species once before but have already caught it twice this month
Allata indistincta - male and female (Notodontidae) - I first caught this earlier this month and since then have seen several. The female is the one with the bold white on the leading edge of the wing, this male shows the refelctive patches on the wings better than my earlier specimen
Anomis flava (Catocaliae) - one of a pair of similar Anomis (the other being An. lyona), this is the commonest Anomis in the garden
Athyrma subpunctata (Catocalinae) - I had only caught this species once before but have already caught it twice this month
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Anticarsia irrorata (Catocalinae) - the first of the season.
Bracca rotundata (Ennominae) - one of my favourite Geometrids, this one is slightly battered so presumably not freshly emerged!
Donuca castalia (Catocalinae) - an extremely variable moth and one that I have only seen a couple of times prior to this month, one night this month caught three individuals
Speiredonia obscura (Catocalinae) - true to fowm for the Speiredonia this did not appear at the MV, rather it was in the laundry room where my trap controls are.
Spirama recessa (Catocalinae) - a very attractive moth that is quite common, its inderside is a bright burnt orange colour
Bracca rotundata (Ennominae) - one of my favourite Geometrids, this one is slightly battered so presumably not freshly emerged!
Donuca castalia (Catocalinae) - an extremely variable moth and one that I have only seen a couple of times prior to this month, one night this month caught three individuals
Speiredonia obscura (Catocalinae) - true to fowm for the Speiredonia this did not appear at the MV, rather it was in the laundry room where my trap controls are.
Spirama recessa (Catocalinae) - a very attractive moth that is quite common, its inderside is a bright burnt orange colour
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Agrioglypta itysalis (Spilomelinae) - one of several species of Agrioglypta that I catch in the garden
Metoeca foedalis (Spilomelinae) - my first of this common species for several months.
Orthaga seminivea (Epipaschiinae) - a new species for me and a distinctive one. So many in this group are exceedingly difficult to get a definite ID without dissection
Prooedema inscicsalis (Spilomelinae) - I had not seen this species before this year but now it is appearing regularly in small numbers.
Rehimena cissophora (Spilomelinae) - another new species for me this week
Metoeca foedalis (Spilomelinae) - my first of this common species for several months.
Orthaga seminivea (Epipaschiinae) - a new species for me and a distinctive one. So many in this group are exceedingly difficult to get a definite ID without dissection
Prooedema inscicsalis (Spilomelinae) - I had not seen this species before this year but now it is appearing regularly in small numbers.
Rehimena cissophora (Spilomelinae) - another new species for me this week
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Bocula odontosema (Catocalinae) - I see this species regularly, the dark mark on the wing always reminds me of a cow!
Gonodontis orthotoma x2 (Ennominae) - another species that I had not seen before this year and now they are appearing almost daily, this duo were caught on the same night
Lymantria antennata (Lymantridae) - this is a male, as is frequent in this group the females are flightless.
Gonodontis orthotoma x2 (Ennominae) - another species that I had not seen before this year and now they are appearing almost daily, this duo were caught on the same night
Lymantria antennata (Lymantridae) - this is a male, as is frequent in this group the females are flightless.
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Final up date today....
Oeonistis altica (Lithosiinae) - a giant footman, this was close to 30mm long
Sympis rufibasis (Carocalinae) - a very attractive and quite varied moth that usualy shows more obvious "eyes" in the forewing
Targalla delatrix (Eutelidae) - one of four similar species of Targalla, this is by far the commonest of them.
Westermannia gloriosa (Nolidae) - one of three similar species of Westermannia that I catch
Stick Insect - as well as good numbers of moths there have been many interesting non moths...
Oeonistis altica (Lithosiinae) - a giant footman, this was close to 30mm long
Sympis rufibasis (Carocalinae) - a very attractive and quite varied moth that usualy shows more obvious "eyes" in the forewing
Targalla delatrix (Eutelidae) - one of four similar species of Targalla, this is by far the commonest of them.
Westermannia gloriosa (Nolidae) - one of three similar species of Westermannia that I catch
Stick Insect - as well as good numbers of moths there have been many interesting non moths...
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I caught this hawkmoth a couple of days ago and at first glance I thought it was a small Gathothlibus eras but something kept niggling at the back of my mind that it was just too small. On looking at it the next morning I started to second guess myself and jumped back and forth between a small eras and a slightly odd Hippotion scrofa. I posted it on a Sphingid page on Facebook where several far more experienced mothers confirmed its ID as eras and I left it at that although it still did not feel right. Anyway this morning another friend pointed out that there were in fact two species of Gnathothlibus that could occur in Australia - eras and australiensis. On closer examination its smaller size and lack of hairy front legs tentatively made an ID of Gnathothlibus australiensis, the ID was confirmed today by a sphingid specialist Jean Hauxaire. The moral of the story is your gut instinct is often right!
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Only five updates today!
The month is continuing with very little let up despite the clear skies and very bright moon. Sphingids are always great to catch and here I am amazingly lucky to have such variety - I have caught 22 species this year alone and am regularly getting 10-12 species a night at the trap. The dominant species at the moment are the Agrius duo of convolvuli and godarti, having not seen godarti before this year I am now getting up to six a night, along with 15+ convolvuli!
Agrius on the trap - five convolvuli and a single godarti (the second from the top).
Agrius godarti showing its lack of pink on the abdomen and the different pattern on the hindwing
Hippotion celerio - a species that is very widespread globally but this is only the second that I have seen.
Hippotion scrofa - a new species for me this week, its hindwing is a brilliant orange red but it refused to show it properly
Theretra indistincta - a large and predominantly brown Theretra with added bling in the form of its pink antennae
The month is continuing with very little let up despite the clear skies and very bright moon. Sphingids are always great to catch and here I am amazingly lucky to have such variety - I have caught 22 species this year alone and am regularly getting 10-12 species a night at the trap. The dominant species at the moment are the Agrius duo of convolvuli and godarti, having not seen godarti before this year I am now getting up to six a night, along with 15+ convolvuli!
Agrius on the trap - five convolvuli and a single godarti (the second from the top).
Agrius godarti showing its lack of pink on the abdomen and the different pattern on the hindwing
Hippotion celerio - a species that is very widespread globally but this is only the second that I have seen.
Hippotion scrofa - a new species for me this week, its hindwing is a brilliant orange red but it refused to show it properly
Theretra indistincta - a large and predominantly brown Theretra with added bling in the form of its pink antennae
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Part II
Canaea hyalospila (Thyrididae) - a new species for me this week
Donuca orbigera (Catocalinae) - I catch the extremely variable Donuca castalia regularly but have not caught orbigera before - what a stunning moth it is
Grammodes cooma (Catocalinae) - my sixth species of Grammodes and one that is very different to the ones I have already caught, this reminds me of the Tigonodes genus.
Paectes cyanodes (Euteliinae) - my favourite species in this group and one that I catch occasionally.
Targalla delatrix (Euteliinae) - this species has become quite common and I am catching it almost nightly at the moment
Canaea hyalospila (Thyrididae) - a new species for me this week
Donuca orbigera (Catocalinae) - I catch the extremely variable Donuca castalia regularly but have not caught orbigera before - what a stunning moth it is
Grammodes cooma (Catocalinae) - my sixth species of Grammodes and one that is very different to the ones I have already caught, this reminds me of the Tigonodes genus.
Paectes cyanodes (Euteliinae) - my favourite species in this group and one that I catch occasionally.
Targalla delatrix (Euteliinae) - this species has become quite common and I am catching it almost nightly at the moment
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Part III
Calyptra minuticornis (Calpinae) p the Calyptra moths are sometimes known as Vampire moths as members of this genus have been seen to pierce the skin of species such as buffalo and zebu to suck their blood, and I believe that in an experiment one pierced human skin as well! Luckily here they are a fruit eater!
Hypena EF2[BOLD] (Hypeninae) - a new species to me and another of the many "known unknowns" here in Australia.
Hypocala spp (Calpinae) - I am reasonably confident that this is a Hypocala species, it is very similar to two very similar undescribed species on BOLD, one from Myanmar and the second from Thailand. Both these species are this colour and have the small white dots near the trailing edge of the forewing that this shows. This has been retained for future setting.
Pheraspis mesotypa (Notodontidae) - a scarce species in the garden, and one that usually seems to land at the top of the wall so I was pleased to be able to get some decent photos of this specimen
Syntypistis spp (Notodontidae) - I think that this is a species of Syntypistis, the closest match that I can find on BOLD is Sy. comatus which is present in New Guinea. Unfortunately I did not retain this one so it is one of many that will not be positively ID'd
Calyptra minuticornis (Calpinae) p the Calyptra moths are sometimes known as Vampire moths as members of this genus have been seen to pierce the skin of species such as buffalo and zebu to suck their blood, and I believe that in an experiment one pierced human skin as well! Luckily here they are a fruit eater!
Hypena EF2[BOLD] (Hypeninae) - a new species to me and another of the many "known unknowns" here in Australia.
Hypocala spp (Calpinae) - I am reasonably confident that this is a Hypocala species, it is very similar to two very similar undescribed species on BOLD, one from Myanmar and the second from Thailand. Both these species are this colour and have the small white dots near the trailing edge of the forewing that this shows. This has been retained for future setting.
Pheraspis mesotypa (Notodontidae) - a scarce species in the garden, and one that usually seems to land at the top of the wall so I was pleased to be able to get some decent photos of this specimen
Syntypistis spp (Notodontidae) - I think that this is a species of Syntypistis, the closest match that I can find on BOLD is Sy. comatus which is present in New Guinea. Unfortunately I did not retain this one so it is one of many that will not be positively ID'd
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![Hypena EF2[BOLD] 16 02 16 (1).JPG](/data/attachments/529/529909-eff0f669f720fa35658d4dc8108d7d53.jpg)
Part IV
Amerila timolis (Arctiinae) - as with other members of the Amerila genus when alarmed this species can produce a froth from glands behind the eyes, and if the reaction of my dog is anything to go by it does not taste nice!
Dysgonia hamatilis (Catocalinae) - my first of this species for the year, I never seem to see fresh individuals of this species
Glyphodes actorionalis (Spilomelinae) - one of several similar species of small, dark Glyphodes with white spots on.
Glyphdes conjunctalis (Spilomelinae) - this species was new to me this week
Westermannia gloriosa (Chloephorinae) - I catch this species quite regularly, and have in fact already posted a photo this month I believe, but getting the lighting right so it does not appear as a washed out pale moth with little patterning has proved quite difficult. I am happier with this photo!
Amerila timolis (Arctiinae) - as with other members of the Amerila genus when alarmed this species can produce a froth from glands behind the eyes, and if the reaction of my dog is anything to go by it does not taste nice!
Dysgonia hamatilis (Catocalinae) - my first of this species for the year, I never seem to see fresh individuals of this species
Glyphodes actorionalis (Spilomelinae) - one of several similar species of small, dark Glyphodes with white spots on.
Glyphdes conjunctalis (Spilomelinae) - this species was new to me this week
Westermannia gloriosa (Chloephorinae) - I catch this species quite regularly, and have in fact already posted a photo this month I believe, but getting the lighting right so it does not appear as a washed out pale moth with little patterning has proved quite difficult. I am happier with this photo!
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Part V - and my final post for today
Casbia albinotata (Ennominae) - there are several species of Casbia that appear in the garden (most of which I have not got round to IDing yet), this one is the exception though in that it is quite distinctively marked!
Mecodina praecipua (Catocalinae) - my first of the season of this reasonably frequently recorded species.
Oenochroma phyllomorpha (Oenochrominae) - a new species for me.
Problepsis apollinaria (Sterrhinae) - there are five species of Problepsis that occur in Australia, this is the only one that I have caught so far. I did not manage to get any decent photos this time as I accidentally disturbed it when removing the green ant you can see in the photo!
Thyas miniacea (Catocalinae) - a very large species with a brilliantly coloured underwing, a new species for me.
Casbia albinotata (Ennominae) - there are several species of Casbia that appear in the garden (most of which I have not got round to IDing yet), this one is the exception though in that it is quite distinctively marked!
Mecodina praecipua (Catocalinae) - my first of the season of this reasonably frequently recorded species.
Oenochroma phyllomorpha (Oenochrominae) - a new species for me.
Problepsis apollinaria (Sterrhinae) - there are five species of Problepsis that occur in Australia, this is the only one that I have caught so far. I did not manage to get any decent photos this time as I accidentally disturbed it when removing the green ant you can see in the photo!
Thyas miniacea (Catocalinae) - a very large species with a brilliantly coloured underwing, a new species for me.
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The moon is getting fuller and much brighter which combined with the lack of cloud cover has had a noticeable effect on the number of moths visiting the trap over the last three nights - that said I cannot complain as the quality ion the lat couple of days has been amazing and overall February is shaping up into by far my best months trapping.
Three updates today...
Dermalepia micrirrhoae x2 (Erebidae) - the classification of this moth has caused much debate this week as it is currently listed as having no genus by many authorities and Dermalepia or Ophiusa by others...either way it is the personification of the phrase "never judge a book by its cover"; with its wings closed it is a large , brown non-descript species and then it flashes its wings at you....
Donuca xanthopyga (Catocalinae) - a very attractive member of the Donuca genus and a new species for me
Macroglossum dohertyi (SPhingidae) - this along with the similar looking species Cizara ardeniaem was one of my major "wants" this year. I have seen it once before but only had my phone camera so have some out of focus photos...
Mythimna formosana (Hadeninae) - one of the commoner "wainscots" that I catch
Three updates today...
Dermalepia micrirrhoae x2 (Erebidae) - the classification of this moth has caused much debate this week as it is currently listed as having no genus by many authorities and Dermalepia or Ophiusa by others...either way it is the personification of the phrase "never judge a book by its cover"; with its wings closed it is a large , brown non-descript species and then it flashes its wings at you....
Donuca xanthopyga (Catocalinae) - a very attractive member of the Donuca genus and a new species for me
Macroglossum dohertyi (SPhingidae) - this along with the similar looking species Cizara ardeniaem was one of my major "wants" this year. I have seen it once before but only had my phone camera so have some out of focus photos...
Mythimna formosana (Hadeninae) - one of the commoner "wainscots" that I catch
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Part II
Eublemma lozostropha (Acontinae) - only the second time I have caught this small Eublemma species. I can only find a handful of photos on line the majority of which are from a collection taken around Canberra in 2007 - I wonder if this is a localised species
Eublemma vestalis (Acontinae) - a new species for me and probably the most attractive member of this genus that I have seen
Euchromius cornus (Crambinae) - a new species for me this week, all the Euchromius around the world seem remarkably similar
Pachynoa xanthochrypta (Spilomelinae) - only the second time I have caught this beautiful moth
Rhynchina inornata (Hypeninae) - another new species for me
Eublemma lozostropha (Acontinae) - only the second time I have caught this small Eublemma species. I can only find a handful of photos on line the majority of which are from a collection taken around Canberra in 2007 - I wonder if this is a localised species
Eublemma vestalis (Acontinae) - a new species for me and probably the most attractive member of this genus that I have seen
Euchromius cornus (Crambinae) - a new species for me this week, all the Euchromius around the world seem remarkably similar
Pachynoa xanthochrypta (Spilomelinae) - only the second time I have caught this beautiful moth
Rhynchina inornata (Hypeninae) - another new species for me
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Part III
Dysphania numana (Geometrinae) - I catch this impressive species regularly, although this was my first for 2016
Anchiale briareus this large and impressive Stick-Insect was hanging around the trap last night
Archimantis latistyla this is a common Mantid at the trap with up to three each night
Moth Butterfly Liphyra brassolis undoubtedly the catch of the month, this species is very localised and is rarely seen, this is a male
Dysphania numana (Geometrinae) - I catch this impressive species regularly, although this was my first for 2016
Anchiale briareus this large and impressive Stick-Insect was hanging around the trap last night
Archimantis latistyla this is a common Mantid at the trap with up to three each night
Moth Butterfly Liphyra brassolis undoubtedly the catch of the month, this species is very localised and is rarely seen, this is a male
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