Thursday 27 November 2008

A Couple of Spiders

At last, the weather has begun to warm up again after a few cold week or so.

These two spiders are taking advantage of the porch light to do some easy hunting.

(Click to enlarge)


This little lady paid me a visit as I was sitting outside observing moth activity on Tuesday night.

She's very similar in colour and body shape to the Little Striped Wolf (Lycosa furcillata) but much larger. Around 2cm from head to tail so I suspect she is Lycosa sp. possibly godeffroyi, (Garden Wolf) which are widely distributed.



Another Huntsman. The little arrow on this shot is pointing to some staining on the jaw hairs. Probably gravy! :-)

Thanks to some outside expert assistance, I now have a fair idea as to the correct identity of this particular species I'm encountering frequently here.

Isopeda leishmanni

Thursday 13 November 2008

November Mothing Page 2

Last night was hot and humid so it would have been a pointless exercise going to bed at my normal time.

It was worth staying up late, listening to the Senate Question Time on the ABC while outside enjoying the night air! :-)

(Click images to enlarge)

No. 1. A common moth but I have not had the opportunity to photograph it till last night. Ochrogaster lunifer (the Processionary Caterpillar/Bag Shelter Moth) if I am not wrong and they can be quite variable in colour.
NOTODONTIDAE : Thaumetopoeinae
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More Don't Knows
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No. 2 was small - about 1cm
UPDATE: Order Tineidae (probably)

No. 3
This moth was larger.
Probably an Oecophorid. Possibly Agriophara sp.
No. 4.
Sort of looks like it has slightly hooked wingtips and measuring about 2.5cm
Probably a Geometrid
UPDATE: Geometridae : Oenochrominae - Taxeotis sp. Could be T. intextata
No. 5
About 1cm in length
UPDATE: No. 5 is the male form of Light Brown Apple Moth
Tortricidae: Epiphyas postvittana. (Thanks for your help, WM)
No. 6
Small moth.
No. 7 was a bit bigger
I'm not sure if this is a another Tortricid or not.
The palps do seem to be pointing forward in front of head and it does look a bit bell-shaped.
Perhaps this moth is the female Light Brown Apple Moth
Tortricidae: Epiphyas postvittana







Tuesday 11 November 2008

A Big HELLO.......

........from Vic. to Tas. :-)

Couldn't have Mosura's Ladybird getting lonely!

This one was trundling around on my wall the other day. I actually moved it to my standard roses where it could perform its little functions in a familiar environment!

Don't you just love 'em!

(Click to enlarge)


Order: COLEOPTERA
Coccinella transversalis

Sunday 9 November 2008

November Mothing - Page 1

(Click images to enlarge)


No. 1 Phalaenoides glycinae (the Vine Moth)
ORDER: NOCTUIDAE



No. 2. Pretty sure this is Agrotis infusa (the Bogong) - in my haystack! :-)
ORDER: Noctuidae




No. 3 is a better shot of Monopsis ethelella
ORDER: Tineididae

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The 'I don't knows' :-)
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No.4. 1cm length
UPDATE: I've been going through the Leaf Rollers and Bell Moths (Tortricidae) trying to identify a moth I photographed last night (11/11)
I wonder if Moth 4 is a Tortricid?




No. 5 (Possibly another Noctuid)
Length - 2.5cm
UPDATE: Having gone through the slim information available on the Net, as a result of a tipoff from Mosura, I think this moth is probably Agrotis porphyricollis
NOCTUIDAE : Noctuinae



No. 6. Just over 1cm in length
Is this one a Tortricid as well?




No. 7 - 2.5cm in length

UPDATE: Thanks to info from Mosura - this moth could be Leucana stenographa
NOCTUIDAE : Hadeninae

Tuesday 4 November 2008

Last Of The October Moths

(Click to enlarge)


More than likely Philobota sp.
Oecophoridae : Oecophorinae


No idea! :-)
It was a small moth, however. Probably less than 1cm in length.

Saturday 1 November 2008

Capers In Town

Not many, but more than last year!

I saw my first Caper White for the season on the 27th October.

Last Thursday, I saw 3 or 4 busy feeding on a Hebe (Wiri Mist)

These butterflies are migratory, temporary visitors to Victoria and other southern states. They seldom breed outside their normal breeding range unless they find suitable host sources.

Main larval host plant is Capparis sp.

Belenois java
PIERIDAE : Pierinae

(Click images to enlarge)