Does anyone recognise this moth? I am not familiar with it and can't find a solid match.
Extraordinarily well camouflaged caterpillar sitting in the middle of a flower on a Rata x Pohutukawa hybrid.
Overlays in an image editor look better for this than I. lithias which seemed like the other candidate.
https://oldwww.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/image/0019/11674/pasiphila_malachita_f2.jpg
the strong pattern and the blue-green scales are what do it for me
Longest of the two vertebrae (?) is ~ 31cm wide
Delighted to see my first one of these in Oteake Conservation Park. When you see that unmistakable flash of pink arriving at the light it really gets the heart racing every time!
Lastly, my favourite from the night. I think this could be Meterana tetrachroa! Certainly, doesn't look like plena. Delighted to see this. There was a lot of small-leaved Olearia shrubs which I believe is the host plant for them.
This looks like the same undescribed Austrocidaria (that looks like / is related to A. lithurga) that I recorded a few days earlier near Devil River Peak (Kahurangi NP). Assuming correct, that would infer a reasonably wide distribution and this site is much lower elevation and right beside the main road - so very accessible if anyone needs to collect a specimen for taxonomic description at some stage.
Interested in this one. I spent over an hour trying to match it to no avail! (sigh....). In terms of moth uploads, I am currently 16 days (and A LOT of moths!) behind real-time. Only my 3rd day at home this December. So... we are still on my way up to Kahurangi National Park. Here is an interesting batch from a night at Lake Rotoroa (Nelson Lakes) in the beech forest and adjoining shrubland.
The story behind the observation: Camping at a small tarn north-east of Devil River Peak, I noticed these fast-moving 'bright orange blurs'. In sunny weather, they would rarely settle. Constantly fluttering around, zipping left and right at 'break-neck speed', and occasionally just hitting the air and 'shooting-off' - until completely out of sight. I thought that they were probably this species, or perhaps a moth in the genus Metacrias. After three nights at this tarn, we ascended Devil River Peak before a long, challenging, and arduous 9-hour tramp through steep bluffs and boulders to a tarn east of Peak 1645 in the Anatoki Range. About one hour before we reached our campsite by the tarn, these 'orange-blurs' reappeared. I had my heavy tramping bag on my back and was 'pretty stuffed' after a long day's tramping and navigating bluffs, screes, dense scrub, and tors. Tempting as these 'orange-blurs' were, I could barely muster the energy to keep walking, let alone get my hand-net out of my pack, run after, and catch one! In addition, the terrain was extremely gnarly. Deep boulderfield, steep screes, and dense scrub. Running after one would have been treacherous, ankle-breaking stuff. I watched them with interest for a half hour whilst I continued my tramp. They were buzzing about, flitting left 5 metres, then right 10 metres. Never sitting still for more than half a second, then disappearing out of sight - just like the ones I saw near Devil River Peak. Later in the afternoon, just before 6 pm, I noticed that their behavior changed a little. Some of them starting landing in the vegetation more often, buzzing about in the foliage a bit. Observing this, I thought once I get to the campsite I will put my pack down, have a quick break, and then get my net out and try and catch one. It will be easier without a week's food and shelter on my back! Well..., as it turns out, I didn't have to do that! Only 200 metres before our camp site, an 'orange blur' lands in a very small (10 cm high) prostrate snow totara shrub a few metres in front of me. I notice that the moth gets a little tangled up in the foliage and branches. This is my chance! Quickly, I drop my pack and whip off my sunhat, slamming it over the moth in a cupped manner - so as not to squish it. To my amazement, I actually manage to catch a Declana glacialis in my hat! I carefully transfer the beautiful creature into a plastic container and take it the final few hundred metres to our campsite. After a sit down and a coffee, I set my tent up and photograph the moth on white paper (and a near-by pretty rock) within the safe confines of my tent - where I know it cannot escape my camera clicks! After a few dozen snaps I am done, and the moth is free to go. I release it back about where it was found and return to camp for some dinner and a well-earned rest.
Very faded - so I wasn't sure which Tatosoma sp. Remaining 36 obs from Varley's Hill, Otago Peninsula. Moths L-Z
Remaining 36 obs from Varley's Hill, Otago Peninsula. Moths L-Z
Dark noctuid flying in front of the window (at light). Did not settle. Glad I got some confirmative photos. A local favourite of mine!
Drawn to light. Very busy night at Falls Dam. Lot's of interesting moths amongst the 1,000 porinas! Splitting the upload into manageable batches over this week.
Couldn't figure out what this moth is with any confidence. Three individuals uploaded separately of the same thing; I think. Drawn to light. Very busy night at Falls Dam. Lot's of interesting moths amongst the 1,000 porinas! Splitting the upload into manageable batches over this week.
ID is based on no white marginal line on underside of the hindwings
These Physeticas do not look like the usual phricias I see and caught me eye immediately. I think they might be Physetica sequens. I see sequens is more common in the North Island but there are records from the Kakanui Mountains (close to this site), Lindis, and southern lakes areas. These ones are similar looking to this observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103144587.
Two nights at Rakeahua Hut on the southern circuit, central Stewart Island.
Two nights at Rakeahua Hut on the southern circuit, central Stewart Island.
Two nights at Rakeahua Hut on the southern circuit, central Stewart Island.
First with photo obs on inat to go with Brian's 4 without photo obs (3 from Southland). Drawn to light at Rakeahua Hut on the southern circuit, Stewart Island.
Maybe! Three nights at the Mamaku Sanctuary on Rakiura. Moths found on the predator-proof fence, in trhe forest, or drwan to UV kights placed on trhe fence overlooking the forest.
Day flying. Difficult to capture and photograph. Saw several launching off rock tors.
Caterpillar found in Muehlenbeckia complexa
Cold night (7 degrees) in the Catlins, but a few things turned up
Not sure, but interested to know. This tree was covered in 100s of moths. Mostly Declana floccossa, Pseudocoremia (2 sp.), slender owlet moth, Pyrogotis plagiatana, and several species of Ichneutica.
I can't find a match for this one. Crawling around photographing small moths in situ by the Dam. Diasemia grammalis were numerous - over 20 seen.
Short trip out to have a look at the salty moth reserve near Patearoa on a sunny day. I was delighted to record two new species that I had not photographed to date.
Short trip out to have a look at the salty moth reserve near Patearoa on a sunny day. I was delighted to record two new species that I had not photographed to date.
Day-flying in damp tussockland. Saw several, but only managed to net one
Unusual small crayfish-like moths all found inside Muehlenbeckia complexa shrubs. I can't find a match easily.
Unusual small crayfish-like moths all found inside Muehlenbeckia complexa shrubs. I can't find a match easily.
Outside my office window at midday. Half the size of Lepidoscia heliochares, and different pattern and coloration.
caught in a pitfall trap
Bit of a guess. Can't id it. What is it?
Second photo (I think) is same moth. Immediately flew off with flash and was found on another part of wall.
ID suggested by iNaturalist. Just spotted this tiny moth walking on the outside of my office window (at 2 degrees celcius). Have never seen this moth before.
Final batch of moths from a night in the Catlins in March. Drawn to light.
A few more moths drawn to light in the Sinbad Gully
Making a start on a large batch from the upper Sinbad Gully, Fiordland. Drawn to light.
Making a start on a large batch from the upper Sinbad Gully, Fiordland. Drawn to light.
Making a start on a large batch from the upper Sinbad Gully, Fiordland. Drawn to light.
Day-flying on wetlands. Very small. Two individuals pictured. Burgan skink monitoring in a remote part of the Lammermoor Range provided good opportunities for a little mothing. First of 3 uploads. Moths starting with 'A' (lots of moths seem to start with 'A').
Burgan skink monitoring in a remote part of the Lammermoor Range provided good opportunities for a little mothing. First of 3 uploads. Moths starting with 'A' (lots of moths seem to start with 'A'). Drawn to light. One night there were at least 12 of them buzzing around the light. Absolute scenes!
Drawn to light. Burgan skink monitoring in a remote part of the Lammermoor Range provided good opportunities for a little mothing. First of 3 uploads. Moths starting with 'A' (lots of moths seem to start with 'A').
Day-flying on wetlands. Burgan skink monitoring in a remote part of the Lammermoor Range provided good opportunities for a little mothing. First of 3 uploads. Moths starting with 'A' (lots of moths seem to start with 'A').