Coat of many colours

Lately I have regularly observed Painted Vine Moths, Agarista agricola one of the NOCTUIDAE family, but have not been able to get any photos as they haven't remained still enough to enable focusing. But today I found one caterpillar on a Slender Grape vine Cayratia clematideo a thin scrambling native that is growing amongst our banana plants.

It is one of the most dramatic patterned caterpillars and like many of the showy ones it says to predators "you can see me but you won't like the taste"

As I was taking photos one of the moths arrived and was busy marking out her territory around the vines and on the bananas,  marking with a scent to discourage any others from depositing eggs. 

The other name for this moth is Joseph's Coat Moth  which as you can see from the photo is quite apt. It is a day flying moth and as well as the native vines that are the food source for the caterpillars they will also feed on the cultivated grape vines. Found it the Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW  and Victoria as well as in Papua.

 

Moths

I have taken a few moth photo but have had a bit of difficulty in identification so haven't posted them but thought I should put them up regardless.

 This tiny moth about 1cm was on the screen door and I am reasonably confident on the identification as James Kershaw's Concealer Moth Heleroteucha kershawi that has a range through Queensland, NSW and Western Australia.

Today I manage a photo of a moth that I also took a photo of a few weeks ago, but unable to get the identification, but today I feel more confident and the closest I can find is Eulrichopidia latinus,  one of the NOCTUIDAE family.

Christmas Greetings

Our Christmas Bells Blandifordia grandiflora timed it exactly right this year.

Best wishes to everyone for Christmas and the New Year

Mimic double

I have been clearing some small trees and today I was collecting the cut logs and when I picked a piece up I though at first glance there was a spider on the bark.

 Quickly recognised that it was in fact a beetle (species not identified) likely to be one of the bark beetles that lay their eggs on fallen trees, for the larvae to feed on the decaying bark and timber. It was quite still, but when disturbed it moved in a way that resembled one of the wasp species that are quite common around here. I found more of them on the logs and noticed that  when they move around their yellow antennae look and flick the same as the wasp's.

 

Eyes and a big smile.

A large moth fluttered against a window last night attracted by the light and it was very noticeable due to strong white markings across the underside of the wings. however I was unable to get it to venture into a position where it could be caught. This morning I had more luck as what I assume to be the same species flew past as I was watering the vegetable garden and took shelter on the retaining logs under a large pumpkin leaf. 

The green tinge is from the light through the leaf and the photo was taken using my iphone.

The moth is one of the Notuidae family Donuca lanipes  White Banded Noctuid found throughout north eastern Australia