Wednesday 9 November 2016

An attractive pair

An unusual shape on a verandah post caught my attention and a close look explained as it was two not one contributing to the shape, a pair of moths caught In Flagrante Delicto.


A beautiful pair oblivious to having their photo taken, for which I was pleased as I had not seen this species before. The markings are quite stunning and the false "head" making them look like something other than moths.

  

It took me a little time to find the identification but finally found enough sources to place them in the COSSIDAE family, Endoxyla mackeri one of the wood moths whose caterpillars bore into the branches of trees, with a particular fondness for Acacia.
The caterpillars are also a favourite food source for Yellow-tail Black Cockatoos.


They stayed in place all day and in the evening the female (on top) departed whilst the male remained for sometime  onlyleaving later in the night.

2 comments:

  1. Super photos Ian and what an unusual moth species :) The false head is amazing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Caroline for the comment and I was pleased to get these photos as this species does not appear to be that common. As we come into summer the moths are getting very active so I hope to find more that I have not photographed before.

    ReplyDelete