Moths -The Weird and the Wonderful - Graham J. McDonald

Introduction

The world of very small and unusual often goes unnoticed. Their interesting colours, shapes and patterns only become apparent after taking their images using a good macro lens and DSLR camera. Knowing where to look for them, how to attract them and getting to know their habits Fig. 2 COSMOPTERIGIDAE: and distribution all help to make this pastime Cosmopterix heliactis Wongi Waterholes, Maryborough - very rewarding. All the images shown here attracted to light were taken using a hand-held Canon 450D Wing span approx. 9 mm (Length 6 mm) DSLR camera and Canon macro f2.8 100 This genus contains about 10 Australian mm lens. All moths were live unpinned species. The tiny adults are superficially specimens with a few in their natural habitat. similar to each other. Larvae are leaf and stem miners of grasses and sedges. Weird Moths

Fig. 1 COSMOPTERIGIDAE: Fig. 3 COLEOPHORIDAE: Pyroderces terminella (Walk.) Coleophora alcyonipennella Tallebudgera Creek Estuary, Gold Coast Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast - attracted to light in Casuarina glauca forest Wing span approx. 10 mm The larvae of this invade deserted This brilliant metallic moth is an exotic Polistes wasp nests. They have also been species which is naturalised in areas of reared from larvae eating dead leaves, where the food plants are found. remains of dead and galled flower Larvae feed on the flowers and seeds of buds of Acacia binervata. They have also Trifolium spp. (clovers) and Medicago spp. been found infesting the egg-sacs of the (medics). golden orb-weaver spider (Nephila edulis) and feeding on the eggs. Note: There were many orb-weavers where the photo was taken.

Fig. 4 TINEODIDAE: Fig. 5 DEPRESSARIIDAE: Cenoloba obliteralis Peritornenta circulatella Tallebudgera Creek Estuary, Gold Coast North Burleigh Headland, Gold Coast on in mangrove community Cupaniopsis anacardioides (tuckeroo) Wing span approx. 8 mm Wing span approx. 20 mm Moths of this family are rarely seen. They There are six species of Peritornenta in are tropical and sub-tropical in Australia, all in northern areas. They are distribution. This one occurs from found in rainforest, soft wood scrubs and Innisfail, Qld to Grafton, NSW. Larvae woodland. P. circulatella occurs in the NT feed in the live seeds of Avicenna marina and from north Qld to Ballina, NSW, inland (grey(Grey mangrove).Mangrove). Cenoloba Cenoloba obliteralis obliteralis as well as coastal. This moth resembles a resembles moths of the family damaged Smilax leaf and was photographed Pterophoridae, the plume moths which in habitat where the larvae join together also have deeply incised wings. leaves of C. anacardioides. They feed while hidden in the shelter so formed. When mature, larvae leave the shelter and pupate exposed on a leaf or other object. Pupae are also cryptically coloured.

Fig. 6 OECOPHORIDAE: OECOPHORINAE: Wingia psittacodes They are boldly coloured in shades of Pine Ridge Conservation Park, Gold Coast orange, pink and cream and have bent in dry coastal heath wing tips. Larvae of some species tie Wing span approx. 22 mm leaves of eucalypts together with silk and Moths of this genus usually have upturned hide and feed inside. This species palpi, the base of which is covered in hairy probably ties the leaves of Leptospermum scales. spp. together.

Wonderful Moths

Fig. 7 AGANAIDAE: Agape chloropyga Fig. 8 GEOMETRIDAE: GEOMETRINAE: Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast in planted Uliocnemis partita rainforest Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast - attracted to light Wing span approx. 48 mm Wing span 38 mm This large spectacular moth is active This beautiful emerald geometrid moth lives during the day but also comes to light at in forest where its cryptic colours hide it night. Its ability to mimic a falling from predators as it rests on lichen encrusted senescent yellow fig leaf protects it from tree trunks. Larvae feed on Acacia leiocalyx predators. The moth’s distribution is from (early flowering black wattle) and Acacia Coen on Cape York Peninsula, Qld to disparrima (hickory wattle). They disguise Lismore, NSW. The larvae feed on a themselves with buds and flower parts of the variety of Ficus spp. (fig trees). host plant. They are pinkish brown with a dark dorsal line and have flanges along the back to which the plant parts are attached. Pupae are also covered by plant detritus.

Fig. 9 : : Donuca orbigera Wongi Waterholes, Maryborough in eucalypt woodland Fig. 10 GEOMETRIDAE: Wing span approx. 55 mm GEOMETRINAE: Anisozyga insperata Common in tropical eucalypt woodland Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast - attracted to light from Cape York Peninsula, QLD to Wing span 30 mm Sydney, NSW. Its food plant and life cycle Another beautiful emerald geometrid from are unknown. rainforest habitats.

Fig. 11 NOCTUIDAE: CATOCALINAE: Fig. 12 ARCTIIDAE: LITHOSIINAE: salaminia Schistophleps albida Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast in moist forest Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast types Wing span 12 mm Wing span 75 mm This small elegant moth often flies The larvae of this fruit-piercing moth chew during daylight but it is also attracted to leaves of vines of the Menispermaceae light. It seems to be common in areas family. Among these are Stephania where lichens grow. japonica, Tinospora spp. and Legnophora moorei. Adult moths pierce ripe fruit and suck the sugary fluids.

References Common, I. F. B. (1990). Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press Herbison-Evans, Don and Crossley, Stella http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au Richardson, B. (2008). Mothology: Discover the Magic, LeapfrogOz Zborowski, P. and Edwards, E. D. (2007). A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing

Acknowledgements Ted Edwards (ANIC - CSIRO) for identifying some of the moth species and providing accurate life cycle data Peter Hendry who assisted in identification and checking of the manuscript John Moss for his attention to detail in fine tuning the manuscript

Photos Graham McDonald This article appeared in Issue Number 68 of “Metamorphosis Australia” in March 2013.