Moths of Toowoomba

Many-plume Moths

Many-plume Moths

Family:- ALUCITIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Alucita
Species:- phricodes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alucita phricodes ALUCITIDAE

The most common of the Many-plume moths. If you look carefully at the structure of the wings you will see that they are made up of what look a bit like feathers.
They are thought to breed on Bower Vine (Pandorea jasminoides) and Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana).

 

 

 Family:- ALUCITIDAE
Sub Family:-
Genus:- Alucita
Species:- pygmaea

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alucita pygmaea ALUCITIDAE

This is the other Many-plume moth that we get here. It is also the smallest.
It's total wingspan is about 8mm and sometimes less.
Breeds on Wild Lemon ( Canthium oleifolium, RUBIACEAE ).

*********************************************************************************

Moth Size

The size of moths can vary at times, particularly if we have a prolonged period of dry weather. Although it is noticeable in moths it is more pronounced in butterflies. It may also be caused by other things like the lack of the correct larval food plant, or an event like early rain then dry, which may causes them to pupate early. 

 

********************************************************************************* 

 Lophotoma metabula HYPENINAE NOCTUIDAE

Edited Jan 10 2018.
The family name has changed and is now Lophotoma metabula HYPENINAE EREBIDAE.

Family:- NOCTUIDAE
Sub Family:- HYPENINAE
Genus:- Lophotoma
Species:- metabula

I am pretty sure these are the same species. The top one, on close inspection, has large areas of wing scales missing. The lower one was photographed some time ago and was in good condition.








**********************************************************************************

Dithalama cosmospila STERRHINAE GEOMETRIDAE

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- STERRHINAE
Genus:- Dithalama
Species:- cosmospila

 

 

********************************************************************************* 

Phrissogonus laticostata LARENTIINAE GEOMETRIDAE

 

Family:- GEOMETRIDAE
Sub Family:- LARENTIINAE
Genus:- Phrissogonus
Species:- laticostata







Phrissogonus laticostata LARENTIINAE GEOMETRIDAE
Feeds on the flowers & buds of Acacia (Mimosaceae), but has also been found on Apple, Clematis Aristata and St John's Wort.


**********************************************************************************