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8 PHOTOS. Thinking tipulata, but unsure. Currently very busy darting around the South Island on field work, so majorly behind 'real time' on uploading my moth observations. For now, here are some interesting ones from the Catlins Forest last week.

9 PHOTOS. I was delighted to encounter this beauty! Bright colouration and pattern seem to match with this species possibly...? But would be great to get an expert view. Currently very busy darting around the South Island on field work, so majorly behind 'real time' on uploading my moth observations. For now, here are some interesting ones from the Catlins Forest last week.

Final Fiordland moth upload from our recent trip. This batch includes all the night-flying moths except Ichneutica (x 2 nights). See @possumsend for alternative photographs of many of the same moths that we encountered at this site over 2 nights. The site locality has been obscured to protect the location of the gecko we were studying, but it is in central, western Fiordland above the tree line at around 1,000 metres a.s.l.

Final Fiordland moth upload from our recent trip. This batch includes all the night-flying moths except Ichneutica (x 2 nights). See @possumsend for alternative photographs of many of the same moths that we encountered at this site over 2 nights. The site locality has been obscured to protect the location of the gecko we were studying, but it is in central, western Fiordland above the tree line at around 1,000 metres a.s.l.

We were about to leave Fiordland as the weather was packing in. Last thing to do was to try and rid the car of some sandflies, so we turned on the aircon and wound the windows down. This moth was on the passenger's side window and Harriet managed to grab it for me! Moth upload 1 of 4 from Fiordland. Cascade Creek. Most moths attracted to light. Some caught by day.

Saw a number of these on a sunny morning fluttering (or launching) over tussock grassland with a strong hebe component (their host plant), but they were extremely difficult to catch in my hand net. Still I managed to get two for photography, which I was thrilled about. Absolute stunners!

Saw a number of these on a sunny morning fluttering (or launching) over tussock grassland with a strong hebe component (their host plant), but they were extremely difficult to catch in my hand net. Still I managed to get two for photography, which I was thrilled about. Absolute stunners!

Species (even genus) may well be wrong, but I've given it a go and hoping the experts can shed some light. Caught in a net in tussock land at 1,350 metres in the late afternoon. Photographed carefully under a clear plastic lid (refused to open wings) and then released unharmed to flutter off into the sunset.