March 2016 - Yorkeys Knob (1 Viewer)

[Dom F]

Another month so another thread - although I have still got 3500+ un-identified photos from Feb so may well add to my previous thread!
The month started with the threat of ex Tropical Cyclone Winston coming ashore and dropping huge quantities of rain on us (forecast 6 inches per hour), it is not just UK weather forecasts that get it wrong....whilst we had some rain it was like a dome had been put over Cairns and we had less than 5 inches throughout the whole system!
The month has started moth wise as Feb left off - manic! Although at times numbers of individuals were not as high diversity was excellent. There are seven up dates for the first week but we have a friend from Scotland over at the moment so it may take me a couple of days to get them uploaded as am being accused of being anti-social......
Spingids Part I
Hawkmoths are always spectacular to see and this month has started very well with probably 15 species already..
Acosmeryx anceus probably my favourite of the "common" species that I catch, I never see it in large numbers but it is always a pleasure to see
Eupanacra splendens my first of this species this year. This is never a common moth averaging no more than 2-3 records
Hippotion velox
Macroglossum hirundo the most frequently recorded Macroglossum at my trap; although usually only recorded singly I do see this species regularly
Theretra celata my third record this year

 

[Dom F]

Part II
A few more Sphingids...and a couple of others

Hippotion boerhaviae and Hippotion rosetta although not in the sae eague as the Theretra pair of latreillii and tryonii I do struggle with this pair so it was nice to get them together on the same night. Hi. boerhaviae is on the left in this photo
Daphnis moorei recently confirmed as a sperat species, rather than a race of Da. hypothous this was by far the greenest and freshest individual I have ever caught
Ambulyx dohertyi this was a new species for me this month, this is a male

Paracrama latimargo (Nolidae) - having only seen this for the first time late in 2015, this very attractive Nolid has become a regular ffeature at the trap, I am catching it atleast once a week at the moment
Pheraspis mesotypa (Notodontidae) - A very attractive species that I have seen several times since catching for the first time in December last year

 

[Dom F]

Slight delay will post rest tomorrow......

 

[Dom F]

Part III - Geometrinae .....and one other....
March has continued where February left off when it comes to Geo's in particular Agathia with three species in the first week - none of which are particularly common at the trap
Agathia lycaenaria
Agathia pisina
Agathia prasinaspis

A far more common species is Prasinocyma albicosta which is a regular at the trap

Hypena gypsospila (Hypeninae) - I have only seen this species on a couple of occasions and they are normally quite tatty looking individuals so was very pleased to see such a fresh looking individual

 

[Dom F]

Part IV

Cleora repetita(top) Cleora interjecta (bottom) (Ennominae) - Cleora are an extremely variable genus and one that I struggle with, I have many as yet un-identified photos of this genus but these two are the commonest of the species here.
Oenochroma pallida (Oenochrominae) - a new species for me this week
Petelia medardaria (Ennominae) - This was a new genus and species for me last month and it is now appearing quite regularly at the trap.
Polyamce dissimilis (Ennominae) - only the second time I have caught this species
Ruttellerona psuedocessaria (Ennominae) - I first caught this genus of large Ennominae in December 2015, and now it has become quite a regular feature at the trap in small numbers

 

[Dom F]

Part V
Antithemerastis acrobela (Notodontidae) - this was a new species for me, its range is restricted to Queensland
Callyna leuconota (Amphipyrinae) - this is the second time I have caught this very attractive species, unfortunately this individual is rather battered and does not do this species justice
Epiplem desistaria (top) Epiplema stereogramma (Uranidae) -I had not encountered these Uranidae that partially role their wings up prior to moving to Australia, now I see species belonging to this and similar genus's most nights. They are remarkably difficult to photograph satisfactorily and these are about the best photos I have managed to take of these species
Selenis semilux (Acontinae) - a striking and not uncommon species, although I see the similar Zagira stragulata more frequently
Syneora lithina (Ennominae) - this species was new to me this year and now is a regular feature at the trap

 

[Dom F]

Part VI

Eublemma leucodesma (Acontinae) - only the second time I have seen this apparently quite scarce species
Glyphodes bicolor (Crambidae) - one of the 13 + species of Glyphodes that I record in the garden, whilst not common I see this most months.
Serrodes mediopallens (Catocalinae) - this species was new to me a couple of nights ago, as so often happens when it turned up first there was not one but two individuals at the trap
Stictoptera signifera (Stictopterinae) - this species appears to be either extremely restricted in range or new to Australia as I can find no other records of this species from here.
Trigonodes cephise (Catocalinae) - this male was the first of the year of this very attractive species

 

[Dom F]

Part VII

Parotis nr incurvata (Crambidae) - one of several similar species of Parotis that are probably only safely confirmed by dissection, that said the combination of the dark spot and fringe make this a good match for incurvata

Tramea loewii a new species of Dragonfly for the garden
Dainty Tree Frog appeared on the nights that we had reasonable amounts of rain
Archimntis latistyla having a word with Odin!

 

[Dom F]

A few more updates - there is some duplication with earlier in the month but there have been some very photogenic species....

Sphingids Part I
Acosmeryx anceus - probably my favourite of the regular species. Never as common as Theratra latreillii but it is one that occurs in small numbers.
Daphnis placida - my second Daphnis species of the month; have caught three individuals so far in March, by far my best year for this genus
Hippotion scrofa - only my second individual of this species
Macroglossum rectans x2 this species was new to me this week and as is often the case once you catch one others start to appear. I find the ID of these Macroglossum very tricky so these have been confirmed by a friend of mine who is a hawkmoth specialist - I struggle for hours looking at the specimen and reference material, then post a photo and Jean replies instantly and normally I have got them wrong.......

 

[Dom F]

Sphingid Part II

Gnathothlibus eras have caught a further three of this bulky species.
Hippotion boerhaviae I catch the boerhaviae / rosetta complex frequently and the majority seem to be rosetta, this is only the third boerhaviae I have caught this year (although I do have a few battered individuals that I have not positively ID'd)
Hippotion velox I catch singles of this species occasionally so I was very surprised a couple of nights ago to find three pristine individuals at the tap
Theretra margarita at the start of the season margarita were out numbered by oldenlandiae but now I catch more of these
Thereta silhetensis this is probably the dominant Theretra species a the moment with 2-3 being caught most nights - I am only catching the occasional battered latreillii

 

[Dom F]

Part III

Asota heliconia Aganidae - the commonest of the Tropical Tiger moths that I catch. Although I only ever seem to catch singles I do see this species regularly
Asota orbona Aganidae - less common that the preceding species
Neochera dominia Aganidae - the scarcest of the three regular large Aganidae that I catch
Amerila alberti (Arctiidae) - I new species for me. I see rubripes and timolis regularly; alberti's red abdomen was a real give away as it was flying around the light
Creatonotos gangis Arctiinae - a common species in the garden but an exceedingly attractive one

 

[Dom F]

Part IV
Geometrinae this year continues to be an excellent year for this family - I have caught several new species already!

Agathia pisina - the Agathia genus is a very attractive group of Geos, this is one of four species that I catch o a regular basis.
Alloeopage cinerea - this is the first male that I have caught
Chrysochloroma megaloptera - only the third individual that I have caught of this species
Pingasa blanda and Pingasa chlora - I love these species that hold their wings in such an unusual manner

 

[Dom F]

Part V - Catocalinae

Donuca xanthopyga - this was a new Donuca for me, I see castalia regularly, but this with its yellow tip to the abdomen was a new one. As with castalia this is quite a variable species
Dysgonia curvisecta, Dysgonia hamatilis and Dysgonia senex - I am in the process of working my way through several papers dealing with the taxonomy of the Dysgonia as it seems to be a genus in flux as I have seen several of the species referred to as Bastilia rather than Dysgonia. I have caught 7- members of this complex with senex being the most regular both in terms of the number of nights that I record it and the number of individuals recorded in a night (peak of ten); curvisecta was a new species for me this month.
Thyas miniacia - only the second individual of this species that I have seen.

 

[Dom F]

Part VI

Euproctis subnobilisx2 (Lymantriidae) - another very attractive species of Euproctis, this was new to me this week.
Notodont - not managed to work out what this Notodontidae is yet, but I can say with certainty that I have not seen this one before!
Syntypistis opaca (Notodontinae) - only the second time I have cuaght this attractive Notodont

 

[Dom F]

Part VII - more Catocalinae and one other...

Anticarsia irrorata - the second one I have caught this year, either they are late in emerging this year or there are fewer around than in 2015 as last year this was a much more common and regular sight in the garden
Mecodina praecipua - this species is completely opposite to the previous, last year I caught just a handful late on in the Wet where as this year they are out earlier and although not numerous I am seeing a couple most nights at the moment
Ophiusa disjungens and Ophiusa hituense I catch five species of Ophusa regularly with these two probably being the most regularly seen. I never seem to catch more than singles of any of this genus

Polyacme dissimilis (Ennominae) - a varied moth, have not seen this variation with the bold line across the wings before

 

[Dom F]

Part VIII

Aiteta pratti (Chloephorinae) - this species seems to have a very restricted range in Australia, basically FNQ where I live. I have recorded this species that seems to be predominantly found in New Guinea regularly since Aug 2015. This is a female
Athyrma subpunctata (Catocalinae) - this variable species has been quit numerous this year with small numbers being seen each week - peak count of three so far this month
Gesonia obeditalis (Catocalinae) - this species was nominally a new one for me this month but in reality I have recorded this regularly since early last year but have only just managed to get a positive ID!
Hamodes propitia (Catocalinae) - this is a common species in the garden in small numbers (up to four in a night) but I don't usually see ones as dark as this individual
Hypocala delforata (Catocalinae) - this is a new species of Hypocala, they seem to be a very variable group so this one has been retained for closer examination as and when I can!

 

[Dom F]

Part IX Crambidae
This huge group is one of my favourites over here they are just so varied!

Glyphodes multilinealis - one of the commonest species of Glyphodes that I record, seen on most nights during the Wet and regularly during the Dry season
Hyalobathra crenulata - only the second time I have caught this attractive species
Meroctenia staintonii - a regular visitor to the trap in small numbers, have had a peak of three this month so far
Prophantis androstigmata -one of several remarkably similar species

 

[Dom F]

Part X

Epiplema leucosema (Uranidae) - on anew species of Epiplema for me, although I have several unidentified photos from last year that I must go back and check to see if I have recorded this species before.
Ischyja neocherina male (Catocalinae) - this was a new genus for me. These moths are large and impressive (wingspan of 10+cm). This particular species is restricted to Far North Queensland
Prorocopius spp (Catocalinae) - I am not completely confident of this ID as there are several rather similar genus so I am still looking, unfortunately it flew off before I could retain it!
Synthereta escarlata (Saturnidae) - thanks to some papers that another friend has forwarded to me re-evaluating all Australian species of Synthereta I have recently had to correct all my IDs. All the individuals that I have called janetta are in fact escarlata with the only other possibility being leona which as yet I have not caught. I caught two of these on the same night which is excetionally late as they are normally over by January - and in addition both the moths were very freshly emerged - within the last couple of days
Trigonodes cephise male (Catocalinae) - last year this was the scarcer of the two Trigonodes that I catch but this year I am seeing it regularly, although predominantly males

 

[Dom F]

Part XI - and my final update for today....

Saptha libanota (Choreutinae) - in Australia these colourful moths are restricted to North Queenland, they also occur in New Guinea. I see them occasionally usually after rain. There were several of them running around the trap a few nights ago
Tyspanodes (Crambidae) - this is a new genus for me but unfortunately as you can see it was sitting on a cable that my mothing assistant thought would be good for a game of tug'o'war, need I say more....if I recatch one I may be able to get it down to species!
Psychidae - I have not seen a case this large before, it has made a pretty good job at denuding a small bush. Would like to retain it to see what emerges so am going to try and build a small enclosure to catch it as and when it emerges
Burying Mantis - this has been a regular visitor at the trap throughout the months

Scrub Python - these seem to be like buses you dont find one for weeks then two come along within days of each other. This was a small individual that i rescued from the top of our road and released into the garden - much to the disgust of Odin our Dachshund, this one was barely as thick as my wrist and probably only 6-7 foot long. The next morning I was woken by the local lorikeets screaming outside the bedroom window, I was expecting to refind this Scrubby and so was surprised to find a second much larger specimen curled up asleep at the top of a coconut palm - whilst hard to judge length as it was not all visibl its body was as broad as the cocnuts in their husks!

 

[Dom F]

My apologies for the lack of posts recently but family issues have got in the way. i will summarize the end of March as soon as possible and the start an April thread!