Pterogonia cardinalis (Nolidae, Westermanniinae) from last week. There are not too many Australian records for this species, I caught one last year in the same area but prior to that had not seen one for nearly 6 years. Seems to be far more frequently encountered in other parts of the Indo-Pacific region.
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Australian Moths and other garden observations (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Atropos
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I am two thirds through my initial sort and edit of my photos from my trip to Kutini-Payamu after which I can then start trying to ID the tricky stuff. One of my target species for my recent trip to Kutini-Payamu was Plutodes signifera (Geometridae, Ennominae). Within Australia there are two species of Plutodes (signifera and an as yet undescribed species) that only occur at the top of Cape York, and neither species are common to say the least. I have seen signifera on previous visits but have failed to get a photo of it with its wings spread. This trip I caught it on two of the three nights but they stubbornly refused to show their distinctive pattern...I was reduced to chilling and managed to get one to spread its wings on the inside of the tube, when I tried to move it onto a more natural setting it vanished....
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Another genus that was surprisingly common this trip was Imma (Immidae), with one species Imma marileutis being especially common with 25+ on the sheet each night. In total I saw four species:
Imma acosma seen on two nights
Imma albifasciella 1-2 individuals on two nights, this species has a quite restricted range.
Imma lyrifera singles on two nights this species is recorded in both Aus and PNG and is classified as rare in both countries - there are only four known specimens from PNG
Imma marileutis very common this trip
Imma acosma seen on two nights
Imma albifasciella 1-2 individuals on two nights, this species has a quite restricted range.
Imma lyrifera singles on two nights this species is recorded in both Aus and PNG and is classified as rare in both countries - there are only four known specimens from PNG
Imma marileutis very common this trip
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One of the genera that I have only caught at Kutini-Payamu is Capasa (Geometridae, Ennominae). The genus is endemic to the Indo-Pacific region and within Australia only occurs at the top of cape York. There are two described species and two other as yet undescribed species. They are a rather attractive genus with muted colouration...until you see the underside that is!
The first photo is of Capasa ANIC1, the second of Capasa recensata and the third is the underside of Capasa ANIC1
The first photo is of Capasa ANIC1, the second of Capasa recensata and the third is the underside of Capasa ANIC1
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A few more from my recent trip, have finished my initial edit and sort of the 1400+ photos now comes the really hard task of IDing the tricky stuff!
Argyrolepidia thoracophora (Noctuidae, Agarstiinae) - very few published records for this species all of which come from the area of Kutini-Payamu. It is interesting that this species and the genus Vitessa (Pyralidae, Pyralinae) look very similar, presumably in an attempt to warn potential predators that they don't taste nice
Avirostrum pratti (Erebidae, Erebinae) - I recorded this species on my last trip across and these appear to be the only two modern records
Erecheia kebea (Erebidae, Erebinae) - a new species for me and this is apparently the first published photo of a live specimen
Krananda extranotata (Geometridae, Ennominae) - always a pleasure to see this species. Present in good numbers this trip with 2-3 on the sheet each night
Vizaga mirabilis (Nolidae, Chloephorinae) - another species only recorded from this area. There were 2-3 present each night, a truly stunning moth, even the hindwing is spectacular being a beautiful blue but sadly was not able to get a photo showing it clearly
Argyrolepidia thoracophora (Noctuidae, Agarstiinae) - very few published records for this species all of which come from the area of Kutini-Payamu. It is interesting that this species and the genus Vitessa (Pyralidae, Pyralinae) look very similar, presumably in an attempt to warn potential predators that they don't taste nice
Avirostrum pratti (Erebidae, Erebinae) - I recorded this species on my last trip across and these appear to be the only two modern records
Erecheia kebea (Erebidae, Erebinae) - a new species for me and this is apparently the first published photo of a live specimen
Krananda extranotata (Geometridae, Ennominae) - always a pleasure to see this species. Present in good numbers this trip with 2-3 on the sheet each night
Vizaga mirabilis (Nolidae, Chloephorinae) - another species only recorded from this area. There were 2-3 present each night, a truly stunning moth, even the hindwing is spectacular being a beautiful blue but sadly was not able to get a photo showing it clearly
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Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Pitifull here right now, super moon doesn't help much either!
Having said I wont be out trapping I decided that with 100% cloud cover and no wind that I would head out on Friday. The conditions remained favourable until around 1030 then the wind picked up, the clouds vanished and the moon appeared so I went home! It was surprisingly productive up until that point with approx 100 species recorded.. I have not really started to go through them but these are the highlights so far
Oenochroma decolarata (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - a scarce species that I see on average a couple of times a year here on the Cape
Barantola pulcherrima (Depressarinae) - these seem to be following me around at the moment, there were two on the sheet on Friday
Gonodontis orthotoma (Geometridae, Ennominae) - a regular visitor to the sheet here and one that is always a pleasure to see
Endoxyla (Cossidae) - this large species (approx 14cm wingspan) is a regular visitor top the sheet. At this stage we are not sure what species this is but a couple of specimens have been sent to the expert in this genus and we will see what he thinks
Oenochroma decolarata (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - a scarce species that I see on average a couple of times a year here on the Cape
Barantola pulcherrima (Depressarinae) - these seem to be following me around at the moment, there were two on the sheet on Friday
Gonodontis orthotoma (Geometridae, Ennominae) - a regular visitor to the sheet here and one that is always a pleasure to see
Endoxyla (Cossidae) - this large species (approx 14cm wingspan) is a regular visitor top the sheet. At this stage we are not sure what species this is but a couple of specimens have been sent to the expert in this genus and we will see what he thinks
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I had meant to post this one a while ago, two species of Macroglossum (Sphingidae) from last month.
Macroglossum errans (left hand specimen) is probably the commonest member of this genus and Macroglossum prometheus (right hand specimen) is one of the rarer species with this being only the fourth specimen in 12 years.
Macroglossum errans (left hand specimen) is probably the commonest member of this genus and Macroglossum prometheus (right hand specimen) is one of the rarer species with this being only the fourth specimen in 12 years.
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Hi Ian thanks for the comment. I have had another look at this one as it is always good when fresh eyes look at things as I make many mistakes. G. orthotoma is a hugely variable species, all the other described Gonodontis can be quickly ruled out by the discal spot on the hindwing. The two fascia across both the forewings and hindwings, with the forewings showing a very acute angle close to the costa is pretty much only found in orthotoma. 5763 is I think just a strongly marked version of the one in the link I have attached to this which has been confirmed via DNA sampling
A quartet of Xyloryctidae from last month.
Brachybelistis neomorpha caught in Weipa - seems to be a new species for the Cape. The vast majority of records are from southern Qld / NSW although BOLD does have two specimens from south of the Gulf of Carpentaria. A new species for me
Clerarcha poliochyta a scarce visitor to my sheet, have recorded this both here in Weipa and at Kutini-Payamu.
Cryptophasa phaeochtha, a species I have only seen at Kutini-Payamu.
Stachyneura sceliphrodes another new species for me from my recent trip to Kutini-Payamu. and possibly the first photo of a live specimen. Known in Aus only from the top of Cape York but it is also recorded in New Guinea.
Brachybelistis neomorpha caught in Weipa - seems to be a new species for the Cape. The vast majority of records are from southern Qld / NSW although BOLD does have two specimens from south of the Gulf of Carpentaria. A new species for me
Clerarcha poliochyta a scarce visitor to my sheet, have recorded this both here in Weipa and at Kutini-Payamu.
Cryptophasa phaeochtha, a species I have only seen at Kutini-Payamu.
Stachyneura sceliphrodes another new species for me from my recent trip to Kutini-Payamu. and possibly the first photo of a live specimen. Known in Aus only from the top of Cape York but it is also recorded in New Guinea.
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Managed to get out on Wednesday this week for a few hours before the wind picked up to near gale force. Given that this is the Dry season the trap was surprisingly busy - at this time of year I expect micro's to dominate and whilst they were very common there were a surprising number of macros as well.
Endoxyla mackeri (Cossidae) - this mid sized Cossid (wingspan 14cm) seems to be especially common this season with at least two appearing on the sheet most night
Mahasena sp cf corbetti (Psychidae) - this is a genus not currently on the Australian list. There are apparently 4 or 5 other specimens from the last 20 years all taken from Cape York most in poor condition. My friend will be looking at these in his PhD as they have the potential to be an agricultural pest (apparently this genus is a pest in Indonesia
Endoxyla mackeri (Cossidae) - this mid sized Cossid (wingspan 14cm) seems to be especially common this season with at least two appearing on the sheet most night
Mahasena sp cf corbetti (Psychidae) - this is a genus not currently on the Australian list. There are apparently 4 or 5 other specimens from the last 20 years all taken from Cape York most in poor condition. My friend will be looking at these in his PhD as they have the potential to be an agricultural pest (apparently this genus is a pest in Indonesia
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Still slowly working through the backlog of unidentified photos from previous sessions as trapping here has been very slow recently due to strong winds. I am hoping to go out tonight and again over the weekend but we shall see what the weather gods put in front of me. A new genus for me from last month and having read through the description of the sole known member of that genus this is a new and undescribed species that I shall have to try and retain should I catch another in the next couple of weeks.
The palps on this are astonishing and made ID to genus level remarkably easy for a Phycitinae.
Barbifrontia sp (Phycitinae)
The palps on this are astonishing and made ID to genus level remarkably easy for a Phycitinae.
Barbifrontia sp (Phycitinae)
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This week has been an interesting one to say the least, my computer was killed by an unexpected power outage that fried the CPU and Fridays mothing session was brought to an abrupt and very early hault by a paniced phone call from my wife saying one of the dogs had chewed the corner of a packet of oxygen absorber from some beef jerky and she didn't know if they had swallowed any, given how poisonous this stuff is and living in a small remote town without permanent vets being around this lead to a stressful and long night but luckily 24 hours later neither displayed any of the symptoms listed following the injestion of it, hyper-salivation, vomiting and total organ failure in 24 hours, so I decided to head out again Saturday night. Happy to report that both the mutts are fine this morning.
Aiteta pratti (Nolidae, Chloephorinae) - this PNG species is not officially on the Austrlian list but I caught it on approx 5 occasions around Cairns in 2015 and 2016 and since moving to Weipa see it semi regularly on the sheet. Last night was exceptional with 3-4 on the sheet together
Dordura aliena (Erebidae, Erebinae) - my second record of this species that is widespread across the Indo-Pacific. There are as far as I can tell only six Aussie records (1904, 1992 and 2x 1993). Three of these six records have now come from Weipa.
Euchromia aemulina (Erebidae, Arctiinae) - Euchromia seem to have a very restricted flight period on the Western Cape. I only ever see them over a couple of weeks in the Dry, the exact timing change but always sometime in July / August. When they are flying they can be quite numerous, I have had ten on the sheet together in the past, but there was just a single out on Friday
Genduara subnotata complex (Lasiocampinae) - As can be seen from the two specimens shown this is a highly variable species and it is likely that it is a complex rahter than a single species. It occurs across the whole of the country from South West WA all the way to the Cape
Oenochroma decolorata (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - I catch this most years but it is never common, I think this is my third this year which makes it one of the best seasons yet for it. All modern published reords for this species are mine.
Oenochroma pallida (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - a widespread and more commonly encountered member of the genus
Pygmaeomorpha ocularis (Limacodidae) - a regular in small numbers on my sheet, this is one of those species that no matter how many times I catch it I end up taking multiple photos, last night was no exception and I ended up with 10+ photos!
Aiteta pratti (Nolidae, Chloephorinae) - this PNG species is not officially on the Austrlian list but I caught it on approx 5 occasions around Cairns in 2015 and 2016 and since moving to Weipa see it semi regularly on the sheet. Last night was exceptional with 3-4 on the sheet together
Dordura aliena (Erebidae, Erebinae) - my second record of this species that is widespread across the Indo-Pacific. There are as far as I can tell only six Aussie records (1904, 1992 and 2x 1993). Three of these six records have now come from Weipa.
Euchromia aemulina (Erebidae, Arctiinae) - Euchromia seem to have a very restricted flight period on the Western Cape. I only ever see them over a couple of weeks in the Dry, the exact timing change but always sometime in July / August. When they are flying they can be quite numerous, I have had ten on the sheet together in the past, but there was just a single out on Friday
Genduara subnotata complex (Lasiocampinae) - As can be seen from the two specimens shown this is a highly variable species and it is likely that it is a complex rahter than a single species. It occurs across the whole of the country from South West WA all the way to the Cape
Oenochroma decolorata (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - I catch this most years but it is never common, I think this is my third this year which makes it one of the best seasons yet for it. All modern published reords for this species are mine.
Oenochroma pallida (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - a widespread and more commonly encountered member of the genus
Pygmaeomorpha ocularis (Limacodidae) - a regular in small numbers on my sheet, this is one of those species that no matter how many times I catch it I end up taking multiple photos, last night was no exception and I ended up with 10+ photos!
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Mothing is often a solitary pastime out in the field but when it comes to IDing the specimens it most certainly is not. This species below is a case in point. I caught this on my recent trip to Kutini-Payamu and have been totally stumped as to what where to start with searching for an ID let alone actually getting an ID. I posted it on several groups to gather a range of opinions from various friends and experts. This resulted in a range of options, some of which I had thought of and others that I had not even considered.
Fast forward to this morning and I have tracked this down, this is Bapara agasta (Turner 1911) Pyralidae, Galleriinae. I can only find six published records, one from 1909 (the holotype) and the rest from between 1989 and 1993. BOLD shows three BINs numbers for this species which would imply that this is a complex of morpho species. My specimen is a different colour to the set specimens which is what you would expect, these appear to be the first published photos of a live specimen.
Fast forward to this morning and I have tracked this down, this is Bapara agasta (Turner 1911) Pyralidae, Galleriinae. I can only find six published records, one from 1909 (the holotype) and the rest from between 1989 and 1993. BOLD shows three BINs numbers for this species which would imply that this is a complex of morpho species. My specimen is a different colour to the set specimens which is what you would expect, these appear to be the first published photos of a live specimen.
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The Dry is really starting to bite now, most of the isolated areas of water have dried out and the day time temperatures are back to the low 30s, although the last couple of nights have (for the Tropics) been a tad cold with temps around 17.
Managed a couple of nights towards the end of last week and have just started to go through the photos. Here are a few of the best so far
Aedia acronyctoides (Noctuidae, Acronictinae) - not a common a species on the Cape this is only my third record
Agathia ANIC2 (Geometridae, Geometrinae) - one of the two regular undescribed species I catch here
Agrotera ignepicta (Crambidae, Spilomelinae) - a regular visitor to the sheet
Barantola pulcherrima (Depresariidae) - this is my third record this year
Cernia amyclara (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - my first record for the Cape
Hyposidra janiaria (Geometridae, Ennominae) - my first for a few months, this seems regular during the start of the Wet
Neodiphthera excavus (Saturnidae) - my first for about 18 months
Pachynoa xanthochyta (Crambidae, Spilomelinae) - my first record for the Cape
Managed a couple of nights towards the end of last week and have just started to go through the photos. Here are a few of the best so far
Aedia acronyctoides (Noctuidae, Acronictinae) - not a common a species on the Cape this is only my third record
Agathia ANIC2 (Geometridae, Geometrinae) - one of the two regular undescribed species I catch here
Agrotera ignepicta (Crambidae, Spilomelinae) - a regular visitor to the sheet
Barantola pulcherrima (Depresariidae) - this is my third record this year
Cernia amyclara (Geometridae, Oenochrominae) - my first record for the Cape
Hyposidra janiaria (Geometridae, Ennominae) - my first for a few months, this seems regular during the start of the Wet
Neodiphthera excavus (Saturnidae) - my first for about 18 months
Pachynoa xanthochyta (Crambidae, Spilomelinae) - my first record for the Cape
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Trapping in the Dry is much harder work, both the physical conditions and the fact that the fauna is dominated by micro moths at this period and they are very poorly illustrated and so ID of specimens takes much longer. As a result I tend to get out less frequently than during the Wet. I also try and use the time on other projects, particularly my draft for An Introduction to The Moths of FNQ which I am hoping to get online sometime in the next 12 months web building skills not withstanding.
Here are a couple more from last week - I am hoping to get out tomorrow and possibly Saturday but after that the moon too bright to be worth while for a couple of weeks
Pericyma cruegeri (Erebidae, Erebinae) - I haven't seen the form with the white panel in the forewings for a long time so this was very nice to catch
Pataeta carbo (Euteliidae, Eutelinae) - a species I seem to find in the house more frequently than out in the bush!
Aiteta pratti (Nolidae, Chloephoriinae) - this species has been regular on the sheet over the last 12 months
Here are a couple more from last week - I am hoping to get out tomorrow and possibly Saturday but after that the moon too bright to be worth while for a couple of weeks
Pericyma cruegeri (Erebidae, Erebinae) - I haven't seen the form with the white panel in the forewings for a long time so this was very nice to catch
Pataeta carbo (Euteliidae, Eutelinae) - a species I seem to find in the house more frequently than out in the bush!
Aiteta pratti (Nolidae, Chloephoriinae) - this species has been regular on the sheet over the last 12 months
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Sorry for the gap between posts - managed to catch the flu! The full / super / blue moon has made conditions completely impractical for any trapping so am still working through my catalogue of unidentified specimens. This one though appeared on my screen door this morning and is most likely an undescribed species of Epipristis (Geometridae, Geometrinae), time will tell if I ever get an ID for it
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Managed to get out last night, the first time for several weeks, it was still blowing a gale but with the annual pig hunt now over was safe to go deeper into the Bush to try and escape the wind. It is ridiculously dry already and rather hot (which is a worry as we are still a good two months away from any possibility of meaningful rain and if the El Nino forecast is correct could be a very long Dry). Was pleasantly surprised at how productive it was - being the Dry the majority of visitors to the sheet were micros that will take a lot of work to track down to genus but here are a few of the highlights
Spirama recessa (Erebidae, Erebinae) - a nice female, annual visitor in very low numbers no more than 1-2 year
Glyphodes canthusalis (Crambidae, Spilomelinae) only my second record for the Cape in the last two years
Donuca lanipes (Erebidae, Erebinae) - a regular visitor to the sheet
Opodiphthera eucalypti (Saturniidae) - one of two from last night, have only record two individuals on the Cape before
Unknown Oecophoridae - these are either two similar species or the same but so far no luck in tracking them down! EDIT: have tracked these two down and they are the same species Sphalerostola epierana (Xyloryctinae), as fa as I can tell these are the first published photos of live specimens
Spirama recessa (Erebidae, Erebinae) - a nice female, annual visitor in very low numbers no more than 1-2 year
Glyphodes canthusalis (Crambidae, Spilomelinae) only my second record for the Cape in the last two years
Donuca lanipes (Erebidae, Erebinae) - a regular visitor to the sheet
Opodiphthera eucalypti (Saturniidae) - one of two from last night, have only record two individuals on the Cape before
Unknown Oecophoridae - these are either two similar species or the same but so far no luck in tracking them down! EDIT: have tracked these two down and they are the same species Sphalerostola epierana (Xyloryctinae), as fa as I can tell these are the first published photos of live specimens
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