Look at me

Camouflage is not part of this caterpillar's defense, rather if you've got it flaunt it. 

I couldn't help seeing this one as I was doing some tidying up around our banana plants that have a bit of a tangle of Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea vines around them.

This plant seems to be an attractive food plant for a number of moth species (previously posted) but this was a first for me and again tracking the id took some time as the photos I referenced were  not as dramatic in colouring. The colour and patterning  does change quite a bit as the caterpillar develops. The moth (which I haven't seen) is the Impatiens Hawk Moth Theretra oldenlandiae  and as the common name suggests Impatiens are subject to attack as well as Fuchsias so not particularly in favour with gardeners.

The are found throughout most of SE Asia from India to all states of Australia. 

(photo taken with phone and the caterpillar had disappeared by the time I got the camera)

Not a twig

A chance finding of a pair of caterpillars trying to be twigs as they were feeding on the leaves of our peppercorn tree, Schinus molle.

If identifying moths can be difficult it was even more so for these caterpillars, however I think they are the larvae of the guava moth, Ophiusa disjungens, of NOCTIIDAE CALPINAE family. 

As the common name suggests they are regarded as a pest by guava growers and their range is through many of the countries of SE Asia as well as Northern Territory, Queensland and NSW in Australia.

Cicada Feast

This is a very big summer for Cicadas and we have continuous Cicada singing from dawn to dusk. A number of species can be heard from the almost continuous hissing calls to pulsing drumming. It so prevalent that it just becomes a white background sound almost like the noise of traffic at a busy intersection. In the video You can hear various calls in the background of the song of the cicada on the tree.

I have posted a couple of cicada species previously but today have another to add to our list, the Floury Baker (so called due to their floury appearance when the emerge from their nymph skin) Aleeta curvicosta.

  

 Another cicada photographed today was a female Cherrynose Macrotristvia angularis, (I have previously posted a photo of a male)

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I noted that one of our trees Angophora floribunda  seemed to be a magnet for cicadas with large number on the branches and a real ear splitting noise coming from the location.
A movement high in the branches gave away the location of another who had noticed the abundance of cicadas and was busy consuming any that came in reach.

As you can see this character has been gorging on cicadas, but was still going for more, making the most of this glut of food.
There was a smaller Lace Monitor on another part of the tree but did not seem to be as proficient in getting cicadas as this very large one.

Crimson on show

I found this moth last week, but have been away so this is first chance to post the photo.

What is interesting is the variation in markings, as was noted when I previously posted a photo of this species (August 2016), with no crimson showing and the markings on the upper fore wing were very pronounced.

 The stronger markings appear to be more representative of the species if the selection of images on the web are any guide.

I was pleased to be able to get a showing of the crimson body and a glimpse of the rear wings.

Flash colours

Last night a quite large moth (a little worse for wear) was attracted by the light to the kitchen window, which enabled a photo of the underside. Although not very good it was the only chance before it was disturbed by a smaller moth and flew off.

Outside I found it on the verandah ceiling and was able to get a quick photo with the light from my phone before it was on the move again.

The upper view seemed familiar not instantly recognised, but I was hopeful of getting a better photo to use for ID and as luck would have it the moth landed back on the window and I was able to get a flash photo.

The seemingly black wingspan of around 60mm was transformed into beautiful colours and patterns of a species that I recorded almost 2 yrs ago. It Is one of the Noctuidae family, subfamily Catocalinae, species Donuca lanipes common name Zigzag White Banded Noctuid. It ranges through tropical Northern Territory and Queensland south to central NSW with a few stragglers to southern NSW. It is not very common and little is know about the larvae food source or the biology of the species.