A survey for the Golden Sun plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11.

G.W. Brown, A.D. Tolsma and E.G. McNabb

March 2011

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research

Arthur Rylah Institute Flora, Fauna & Freshwater Research

A survey for the Golden Sun Moth on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11.

Geoff W. Brown, Arn D. Tolsma and Ed G. McNabb

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084

March 2011

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Sustainability and Environment Heidelberg, Victoria

Report produced by: Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Sustainability and Environment PO Box 137 Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 Phone (03) 9450 8600 Website: www.dse.vic.gov.au/ari © State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2011 This publication is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 , no part may be reproduced, copied, transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical or graphic) without the prior written permission of the State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment. All requests and enquiries should be directed to the Customer Service Centre, 136 186 or email [email protected]

Citation: Brown, G.W., Tolsma, A.D. and McNabb, E.G. (2011) A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.

Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Front cover photos: Unnamed public reserve, Creswick, at which the Golden Sun Moth was recorded, January 2011.

Contents

Contents ...... i List of tables and figures...... i Acknowledgements...... ii Summary...... 1 1 Introduction...... 2 1.1 Golden Sun Moth ...... 2 1.2 Aim...... 2 2 Methods...... 3 2.1 Site selection ...... 3 2.2 Survey protocol ...... 3 3 Results and Discussion...... 5 References...... 12 Appendix 1 ...... 14

List of tables and figures

List of tables Table 1. Golden Sun Moth surveys and sightings across the VVP by land tenure...... 5 Table 2. Summary of warm-hot days and days with some rain recorded at Hamilton Airport, summer 2010-11...... 6 Table 3. Weather conditions during Golden Sun Moth sightings, summer 2010-11...... 6 Table 4. Golden Sun Moth sightings by dominant ground vegetation species, summer 2010-11...... 10

List of figures Figure 1. Priority areas for GSM surveys in the VVP, signified by 37 maps containing 140 potential public land sites...... 4 Figure 2. Locations of GSM survey sites, 2009 and 2010-11...... 7 Figure 3. Locations of GSM records during ARI surveys, 2009 and 2010-11...... 8 Figure 4. Relationship between GSM sightings and the cover of Wallaby Grass, summer 2010-11...... 9

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research i A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Acknowledgements

We thank the following individuals and agencies for their contributions to this project:

Adam Muir, James Todd, Kim Lowe and Richard Boekel (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, DSE, East Melbourne) for project oversight;

Richard Loyn and David Cheal (both ARI) for project administration and comments on the draft report, respectively;

Chelsey Langley (Corangamite Catchment Management Authority) for information;

Brian Bainbridge (Merri Creek Management Committee) and Daniel Gilmore (Biosis Research Pty Ltd) for GSM locality and flying information;

Land-holders who kindly allowed access to their properties.

Special thanks are due to Lauren Eddy (Plume Ecology Pty Ltd), Liz Fenton, Neil Hives (IPM Technologies Pty Ltd), and Jane Woodburn, for conducting field surveys.

Special thanks are also due to Matt White (ARI) for modelling GSM distribution.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research ii

A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Summary

A total of 141 Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana Walker, 1854 (GSM) surveys were conducted at sites across the Victorian Volcanic Plains between November 10, 2010 and January 29, 2011. Survey sites represented a variety of land tenures, although most surveys were undertaken on public land (52%), reflecting the difficulty in obtaining access from private landholders. Surveys were carried out on sites supporting grassy vegetation irrespective of whether the vegetation was native or exotic and irrespective of past or current land management practices, except for areas that are currently crops. The GSM was observed at 20 sites (14% of the 141 surveys completed), with 8 of these being private property. Surveys for GSM were undertaken when the weather conditions were assumed a priori to be suitable (sunny, warm to hot, low cloud cover and light wind). However, relatively few days met these criteria this summer, and both the number of days exhibiting favourable survey conditions and the number of GSM found were relatively low. Most GSM were detected when temperatures were 20-35 ºC, cloud cover was 0-25% and winds were low. However, our results show that GSM could be occasionally observed under conditions presumed less optimal, with five GSM detected at one site when the temperature was only 19 ºC. GSM were found mostly at sites with ≥ 10% cover of Wallaby Grasses ( Rytidosperma spp.). However, there was no significant relationship between the cover of Wallaby Grass and the number of GSM detected, most likely due to the low numbers this year compared with last year. The few sites without Wallaby Grasses all contained some Kangaroo Grass ( Themeda triandra ) which provided tussock structure.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 1 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

1 Introduction

The Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) was commissioned by Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services, DSE, to coordinate surveys for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (GSM) across the Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) during the GSM flying season in summer 2010-11, in large part to complement surveys across the VVP in 2009. In this report we present the results of those surveys.

1.1 Golden Sun Moth General information about the GSM, presented in the 2010 report by Brown and Tolsma (2010), is reproduced here. The GSM is a medium-sized (wingspan 3.1–3.4 cm) day-flying moth restricted to Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and adjacent areas of southern New South Wales (Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts 2009; O'Dwyer and Attiwill 2000). It inhabits grassy areas, including native grasslands and grassy woodlands as well as areas of introduced (non- native) grasses (pastures) and weeds. It was listed as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in December 2002 and is also listed as a threatened species under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act 1988 (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2008). A Victorian FFG action statement has been prepared for this species (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2004). The GSM (Family ) inhabits grassy areas including native grasslands and grassy woodlands as well as areas of introduced (non-native) grasses or weeds. An open tussock structure with sparse inter-tussock spaces and/or much bare ground is presumed to be an important attribute of a site supporting the species (Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts 2009; Gilmore et al. 2008). Historically, this species was thought to be confined to areas of native grassland and grassy woodland with a cover of Wallaby Grasses ( Rytidosperma spp.) of more the 40% (O'Dwyer and Attiwill 2000). However, more recent surveys around Melbourne, including those by this Institute, revealed that non-native grasslands were also used by this species, including sites where the cover of Wallaby Grasses was much lower than 40% (Biosis Research 2008; Brown & Tolsma 2010). Recent surveys around Melbourne have increased the number of known populations of this species, particularly in Melbourne’s north and west, and in the Hamilton region. However, records of the GSM on private land within the VVP remain relatively sparse (Douglas 2007; DSE Victorian Fauna Display records; Brown & Tolsma 2010).

1.2 Aim The general aim of this project was to undertake on-ground surveys for Golden Sun Moth across the VVP during the 2010-2011 flying season to further determine the distribution of the species within this bioregion and refine our appreciation of GSM habitat, with a focus on potential sites in nature conservation reserves and on private property.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 2 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

2 Methods

2.1 Site selection The 2010-11 survey for the GSM coordinated by ARI was focused on the VVP, particularly nature conservation reserves and private property which had been under-represented in previous survey data. It used existing knowledge of the habitat requirements of the GSM and the distribution of native grasslands, its putative primary habitat, in this bioregion. Potential study areas had been identified previously by combining a distribution model for GSM (based on all known sightings) with a probability model for native grassland/native pasture (see Brown and Tolsma 2010). In this way the geographical (and ecological) extent of potential habitat was incorporated into the survey design. Within this region, all public land was identified and mapped, and satellite data were used to identify all those areas of public land that might be suitable for GSM survey (cleared or grassland rather than forest, and not a water-body, coastal reserve, military land etc). Sites surveyed previously were deleted, resulting in a short-list of 140 potential public land sites in 37 map areas (Figure 1). Detailed maps of all potential sites were produced, and distributed to regional contractors and contributing ARI staff. Potential private properties were identified from various sources, including Landcare, CMAs and responses to advertisements in local and regional newspapers. Contact details for property owners or managers were provided to regional contractors and ARI staff. These sites were only surveyed if permission was granted by the landholder. Thus, a series of sites was surveyed within each land tenure in each region, with priority given to privately-owned sites and nature conservation reserves.

2.2 Survey protocol The methods for surveying the GSM were based on those documented elsewhere (Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts 2008; 2009; Gibson and New 2007) and are detailed in Brown and Tolsma (2010). Surveys were only conducted during appropriate weather conditions, at a suitable time of day, by qualified observers (i.e. regional sub-contractors and ARI staff).

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 3 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Figure 1. Priority areas for GSM surveys in the VVP, signified by 37 maps containing 140 potential public land sites. Yellow shading = VVP.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 4 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

3 Results and Discussion

A total of 141 GSM surveys was completed across the study region (Table 1). Forty-three potential survey sites on public land, identified a priori through GIS mapping (see Section 2.1), were not surveyed because they did not support suitable habitat or they were of unconfirmed tenure or inaccessible. The 2010-11 GSM surveys were more evenly dispersed over the VVP than those of 2009-10, with a greater proportion of surveys conducted in the northern and eastern portions of the VVP (Figure 2). Most surveys were conducted on public land (52% of total sites), reflecting the ongoing difficulty in obtaining contact information for, or permission from, private landholders. Nonetheless, 48 surveys (34%) were conducted on private sites, which exceeded the proportion of this tenure type in the previous survey (35 sites in 2009 = 21% of sites, Brown and Tolsma 2010). The GSM was observed at 20 sites (Table 1), for a total of 65 individuals (55 males, 10 females). More males than females were recorded because the females are generally flightless and remain relatively stationary on the ground. The GSM was recorded as far north as Creswick, near Meredith in the east, and around Hamilton in the west (Figure 3). Surveys for GSM were undertaken when the weather conditions were assumed a priori to be suitable (sunny, warm to hot, low cloud cover and light wind). However, few days proved suitable this summer, limiting the number of survey days. For example, at Hamilton Airport in the west of the VVP, the temperature exceeded 30 ºC on only nine days this summer, while some rain fell on 38 days (Table 2). The wetter, cooler season (compared to the 2009-10 season) is also likely to have affected GSM activity, with numbers sighted being particularly low; the highest number recorded during a survey was eight. Most GSM were detected when temperatures were 20-35 ºC, cloud cover was 0-25% and winds were low (Table 3). However, our results show that GSM could be occasionally observed under conditions presumed less optimal, with five GSM detected at one site when the temperature was only 19 ºC and wind was gusting to 25 km/h. GSM were found mostly at sites with ≥ 10% cover of Wallaby Grasses ( Rytidosperma spp.) (Table 4). However, there was no significant relationship between the cover of Wallaby Grass and the number of GSM detected (Figure 4), most likely due to the low numbers this year compared to last year. One GSM site was dominated by high cover of Couch ( Cynodon dactylon ) while a site with a single GSM was dominated by mown pasture grasses. However, both sites retained at least some Wallaby Grass or Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis (R.Br.) Stapf) which appeared to provide the desirable tussock structure.

Table 1. Golden Sun Moth surveys and sightings across the VVP by land tenure. Figures are number of sites.

Land Tenure and Access GSM found GSM not found

Private land - accessed 8 38

Private land - no permission or not suitable 0 2

Public land - accessed 8 65

Tenure unknown - accessed 2 9

Roadside - accessed 2 7

Total sites 20 121

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 5 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Table 2. Summary of warm-hot days and days with some rain recorded at Hamilton Airport, summer 2010-11. Source: Bureau of Meteorology- Climate Data Online (BOM Site No. 90173).

Days above 25 ºC Days above 30 ºC Days with rain

November 2010 6 2 13

December 2010 11 3 17

January 2011 12 4 8

Total 29 9 38

Table 3. Weather conditions and recording-rate, Golden Sun Moth sightings, summer 2010-11.

No. of Total GSM GSM/hour of Estimated observed survey Cloud Cover Wind Speed Estimated Temperature

8 10.7 0-25% Still 20-25ºC

6 9.0 0-25% Moderate Wind 35-40ºC

6 6.6 0-25% Slight Breeze 20-25ºC

6 8.0 0-25% Slight Breeze 30-35ºC

5 5.0 0-25% Moderate Wind 15-20ºC

5 5.0 0-25% Slight Breeze 20-25ºC

5 10.0 0-25% Still 20-25ºC

3 8.2 0-25% Slight Breeze 30-35ºC

3 6.4 0-25% Moderate Wind 20-25ºC

3 1.4 0-25% Moderate Wind 20-25ºC

3 1.1 0-25% Moderate Wind 25-30ºC

3 1.2 0-25% Slight Breeze 20-25ºC

2 4.8 0-25% Slight Breeze 25-30ºC

1 2.9 0-25% Slight Breeze 25-30ºC

1 3.0 0-25% Still 20-25ºC

1 3.5 0-25% Slight Breeze 25-30ºC

1 1.8 0-25% Slight Breeze 20-25ºC

1 1.3 0-25% Slight Breeze 25-30ºC

1 4.0 25-50% Moderate Wind 20-25ºC

1 1.3 0-25% Slight Breeze 20-25ºC

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 6 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Figure 2. Locations of GSM survey sites, 2009 and 2010-11. Yellow shading = VVP.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 7 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Figure 3. Locations of GSM records during ARI surveys, 2009 and 2010-11. Yellow shading = VVP.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 8 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2009

9 R2 = 0.0846

8

7

6

5

4

3 Number GSM of 2 1

0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Wallaby Grass (% cover)

Figure 4. Relationship between GSM sightings and the estimated % cover of Wallaby Grass, summer 2010-11.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 9 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2009

Table 4. Golden Sun Moth sightings by dominant ground vegetation taxa, summer 2010-11 . * = introduced

GSM Dominant Dominant Dominant Bare Qty taxa 1 % taxa 2 % taxa 3 % (%) Comments

Rytidosperma Arctotheca Closely mown area of golf course. flying 8 spp . 55 Paspalum spp. * 10 calendulae* 5 actively.

Rytidosperma Microlaena Drier site along ridge. Moths flying on leeward side 6 spp . 30 stipoides 30 Holcus lanatus* 30 only.

Golf course with some native grasses remaining. Rytidosperma Microlaena Cynodon Moths settling on both native and exotic plants. 6 spp . 10 stipoides 10 dactylon* 10 5 Female found within Rytidosperma spp .

Rytidosperma Themeda 6 spp . 60 triandra 20 Elymus scaber 4 1 Moths active and quick-flying.

Grazed pasture with native understorey under Red Microlaena Eucalyptus Rytidosperma Gums. Windy, with moths restricted to sheltered 5 stipoides 60 camaldulensis 15 spp . 10 5 areas.

Rytidosperma Cynodon Themeda 5 spp . 20 dactylon * 20 triandra 10 10 Golf course with some native grasses remaining.

Cynodon Rytidosperma Golf course with native species between fairways. 5 dactylon * 70 spp . 10 Moss 5 5 Moths flying across both fairways and 'rough'.

Rytidosperma 3 Austrostipa spp. 40 spp . 5 North-facing slope in ungrazed paddock.

Themeda Paddock with light sheep grazing. Few shallow 3 triandra 25 Austrostipa spp. 25 depressions recently inundated.

Themeda Rytidosperma 3 triandra 65 Austrostipa spp. 12 spp . 10 1 Males very active and quick flying.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 10 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2009

GSM Dominant Dominant Dominant Bare Qty taxa 1 % taxa 2 % taxa 3 % (%) Comments

Rytidosperma Hypochaeris 3 spp . 50 radicata* 10 Austrostipa spp. 5 5

Rytidosperma Agrostis 3 spp . 60 capillaris* 12 Elymus scaber 10 2 GSM mating, very active.

Rytidosperma 2 spp . 40 Austrostipa 10 Poa spp* 5 20 North-facing slope in ungrazed paddock.

Pasture Themeda 1 grasses*, mown 50 triandra 5 Mown hay paddock, dry and rocky.

Rytidosperma Arctotheca 1 spp . 50 calendula* 10 Grass spp Mown golf fairway.

Anthoxanthum Themeda Mown property boundary adjacent to good patch 1 odoratum* 25 triandra 25 Poa 10 5 of Themeda.

Rytidosperma Microlaena Themeda Small patch of good remnant grasslands, mown 1 spp . 25 stipoides 10 triandra 10 10 intermittently.

Rytidosperma Unidentified Site with drainage line. Male sluggish with 1 Austrostipa 40 spp . 20 aquatic 20 4 damaged wings.

Themeda Rytidosperma Microlaena Narrow lane next to farmland dominated by 1 triandra 55 spp . 10 stipoides 5 5 Rytidosperma spp .

Themeda Rytidosperma Bothriochloa Roadside with native grasses. Burnt annually and 1 triandra 25 spp . 15 macra 15 5 very early last year.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 11 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

References

The following references are either cited in this report or considered useful sources of information on the distribution, ecology or survey of the GSM.

Brown, GW & Tolsma, AD (2010) A Survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2009 . Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. Biosis Research Pty Ltd (2008) 'Targeted survey of the Golden Sun Moth in the Melbourne Area. Final Report. Provided to the Department of the Environment and Heritage on behalf of FKP Commercial Developments Pty Ltd.' Biosis Research Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne. Biosis Research Pty Ltd (2009) 'Survey of the Golden Sun Moth at Amberfield Grassland Reserve, Craigieburn, Victoria. Report to Delfin Lend Lease Ltd.' Biosis Research, Port Melbourne. Braby MF, Dunford M (2006) Field observations on the ecology of the Golden Sun Moth, Synemon plana Walker (: Castniidae). Australian Entomologist 33, 102-110. Department of Sustainability and Environment (2004) 'Action Statement No. 106. Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana .' (DSE: East Melbourne, Victoria). http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/6277E110F4C5BA95CA2570ED00017CA 9/$File/106+Golden+Sun+Moth+2000.pdf Department of Sustainability and Environment (2008) 'Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Threatened List.' (DSE: East Melbourne, Victoria). http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/CE0F24F31465F64FCA25753F00190BFF/ $File/FFG+threatened+list+November+2008.pdf Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts (2008) 'EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.12. Significant impact guidelines for the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth ( Synemon plana ).' DEWHA, Barton, ACT. Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts (2009) 'Background Paper to the EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.12 - Nationally Threatened Species and Ecological Communities. Significant impact guidelines for the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana ).' DEWHA, Barton, ACT. Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts (2010) 'Synemon plana in Species Profile and Threats Database.' (DEWHA: Canberra). Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat. Accessed: 2010-01-13T15:28:35 Douglas F (2007) 'A review of the conservation status of the Victorian Sun-moths (Lepidoptera: Castniidae). Unpublished report to the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.' Endersby I, Koehler S (2006) Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana : discovery of new populations around Melbourne. The Victorian Naturalist 123, 362-365. Gibson L, New TR (2007) Problems in studying populations of the golden sun-moth, Synemon plana (Lepidoptera: Castniidae), in south eastern Australia. Journal of Conservation 11, 309-313. Gilmore D, Koehler S, O'Dwyer C, Moore W (2008) Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (Lepidoptera: Castniidae): results of a broad survey of populations around Melbourne. The Victorian Naturalist 125, 39-46. New TR, Gibson L, Van Praagh BD (2007) The Golden Sun-moth Synemon plana (Castniidae) on Victoria's remnant southern native grasslands. The Victorian Naturalist 124, 254-257.

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A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2009

North B, Bainbridge B (2009) 'Longitudinal monitoring of distribution and habitat of a Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (Lepidoptera: Castniidae) population north of Melbourne. Introduction and results from 2008. Draft report.' Merri Creek Management Committee for Friends of Merri Creek, Melbourne. O'Dwyer C, Attiwill PM (2000) Restoration of a native grassland as habitat for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana Walker (Lepidoptera; Castniidae) at Mount Piper, Australia. Restoration Ecology 8, 170-174.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 13 A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Appendix 1

Golden Sun Moth field data sheet 2010-11. ARI staff and contractors used the following field data sheet to record information for GSM sites that were surveyed.

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A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2010-11

Date: Land parcel #:

Roadside / Public Land / Private - Accessed / Owner or Name Private - Access Denied / Not Known

Locality description:

Observers: Survey # (circle): 1 2 3 4

Start time: *Start odometer: Finish time: *Finish odometer: Total survey time (mins): Total distance:

( * If car used) Approx. site length (north to south) m Approx. site width (east to west) m

Cloud cover during survey 0-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-100%

Wind speed during survey (estimated) Still Slight Moderate Gusty breeze wind Wind speed during survey (instrument) Average km/h Max. gust km/h

Temperature during survey (estimated) 20-25 C o 25-30 C o 30-35 C o > 35 C o

Temperature during survey (instrument) ºC Relative humidity %

Transect spacing 50m 25m 10m n/a

Survey method: Car / Walk /Other †Easting Golden Sun Moth observed? Yes / No †Northing Number of males observed: GPS Datum Number of females observed: † If GSM seen = sighting location Pupal cases observed? Yes / No If GSM not seen = general location

General observations on moths:

Dominant ground cover (see diagram and explanation):

Species/genus % Species/genus %

Bare ground

Were moths observed flying at a Yes / No / Not known reference site on survey day? Which reference site?

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A survey for the Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana on the Victorian Volcanic Plains, 2009

% cover is an estimate of what proportion of the ground in a parcel would be shadowed by foliage of a particular species or genus if the sun was directly overhead. As a rough guide, summed values for all main species/genera and bare ground should approach 100%

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Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research 17