@wa-moths.bsky.socialOpodiphthera helena - Helena Gum Moth
This has to be one of the most amazing moths to visit our moth light!
The Helena Gum moth is one of the largest moths in southwest Western Australia. This one had a wingspan of around 13cm. Stunning! 😍
@wa-moths.bsky.socialNerthra sp. - one of the Toad Bugs (I think)
Spotted this amazingly well camouflaged Toad Bug recently, if it hadn’t moved we’d never have seen it.
#ausinverts #wildoz #Heteroptera #inaturalist #camouflage #bugsky
@wa-moths.bsky.socialThe increase in spring wildflowers has brought an increase in the number of these day flying Forester Moths (Pollanisus cupreus) that are around at the minute.
@wa-moths.bsky.socialLots of vibrant Green Scarab Beetles (Diphucephala colaspidoides) around at the moment, making the most of the abundant spring wildflowers 💚
#ausinverts #wildoz #beetles #Coleoptera #bugsky #inaturalist
@wa-moths.bsky.socialGood news #invert story of the week 🦋
After a catastrophic decline in numbers over recent years that placed Australia’s iconic Bogong moth on the IUCN Red List, their numbers have really surged this year!
@wa-moths.bsky.socialAn example of the same Tortricid Leafroller moth recorded at our moth light in August. I haven't been able to ID this moth yet, so any suggestions welcomed 🔎🦋
@wa-moths.bsky.socialWe've recorded this Tortricid Leafroller moth (I think) at our Perth Hills moth light several times, then we spotted this one on a recent walk. Makes the purpose of those patterns and colours clearer
#teammoth #mothsmatter #ausinverts #wildoz #Lepidoptera #inaturalist #camouflage
@wa-moths.bsky.socialGrammodes ocellata - Large-eyed Box-Owlet
These striking moths can be seen around Australia. This one was seen in a coastal area around 150km north of Perth in early September.
@wa-moths.bsky.socialDichromodes consignata - the Signed Heath Moth
A new observation for us, seen in a coastal area north of Perth last week. These moths are found in Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania
@wa-moths.bsky.socialOne of the many Plume moths that has visited our Perth Hills garden this week.
This one looks like it’s playing an invisible trombone
@wa-moths.bsky.socialSo many Plume moths (Stangeia xerodes) at the moth light tonight!
@wa-moths.bsky.socialAfter a couple of warm spring days in the Perth Hills, our moth tent is currently covered in these lovely Plume moths, Stangeia xerodes
@wa-moths.bsky.socialWe had the first really warm spring evening of the season this weekend, which brought a good variety of moths to our Perth Hills moth light, including:
Fungi Snout
Painted Cup Moth caterpillar
Rhinodia undiferaria
Dichromodes leptozona
@wa-moths.bsky.socialApparently today is Butterfly Big Day, a global day-long #iNaturalist butterflying event 🦋
So, here’s an opportunistic iPhone picture of an Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi) I spotted on my walk today.
@wa-moths.bsky.socialDasypodia selenophora - Southern Moth Moth 🤎💙🖤
Four of these fabulous moths visited our Perth Hills moth light last night, always nice to see these beauties!
@wa-moths.bsky.socialNicodamus mainae (I think)
One of the Red and Black spiders, this guy really stood out against the sandy soil of Wandoo National Park.
Although bright red in colour, these spiders are not as venomous as some of their Aussie cousins 🕷️
@wa-moths.bsky.socialArotrophora cosmoplaca
After a warm spring day there was much more activity at the moth light, including this new observation for our Perth Hills garden. Seems these leaf roller moths are rarely seen with only 6 other records on #inaturalist
@wa-moths.bsky.socialSetocoris sp. - Sundew Bug (I think)
These tiny plant bugs are often found in association with carnivorous sundews (Drosera sp.), where they steal the sundew’s food.
This bug was on a Stylidium, rather than a Drosera, which made it much easier to spot.
@wa-moths.bsky.socialOne of the drawbacks of being so woolly on a wet winter morning 🐛💧
A caterpillar we spotted recently on a cool winter’s morning in an area north of Perth. No idea what this guy is destined to metamorphose into 🦋🔎
@wa-moths.bsky.socialThe mystery of the missing Bogong moths as backyard moth traps fail (so far) to record any of the 14,000 moths tagged at the end of last summer 🔎🦋
#mothsmatter #ausinverts #wildoz #Lepidoptera #inaturalist #citizenscience