Searching for the elusive Cymatoplex moth
Posted on 13 April, 2014 by Connecting Country
Recently a small group of us went out looking over two nights for the rare Cymatoplex sp. moth in a Walmer bushland reserve which has plenty of Drooping Cassinia (Cassinia arcuata). We were hopeful of seeing this moth because previously sightings of adults have only been in late March and early April, and as reported in a previous post, Cymatoplex lavae are known to exclusively feed on Drooping Cassinia.
Unfortunately, even with the aid of a mercury vapour light shining on a suspended white sheet, we didn’t find any examples of this moth. However we did find plenty of other moths.
And here’s some photos of what we found (click on image to enlarge). Can you can help us identify any of them? If so, add a note to the comments section below. We suspect the top middle one is from the Hednota genus, and that the top right one is from the Emerald group of moths (the Geometrinae sub-family).
Moths found in Walmer South Nature Conservations Reserve, 30 March & 4 April 2014
The top right green one was on my front window on 19th May at Wollert Victoria. It looked spectacular and was hiding its head and antenna.
For a very interested ameuter it is really great to get this easily accessed info via email thank you. I am also finding many of these species (and others) in the Whipstick Forest north of Bendigo.
On second viewing I would call bottom left Halone prosenes!
Hi,
I forgot to say that the lovely little cymatoplex sp turned up at our property exactly on time (28th march) we saw them for three night during the next week with a maximum of 3 specimens at any one time. This is a typical profile of activity and I was somewhat relieved to see that the level of activity (unlike some other species) did not seem to have been affected by the recent hot and dry seasons. Steve Williams
Hi. The moths shown are probably as follows:
top left – Scopula optivata or idaea pseliota (pale form)
Top middle – hednota bivitella
top right – chlorocoma sp (possibly dichloraria) (male)
middle left – scoparia sp or in pyralidae
middle idaea probably inversata
middle right smyriodes trigramma (male)
bottom left halone servilis
bottom middle Uresiphita ornithopteralis
bottom right probably xanthorhoe xanthospila
Note: some of the above may be spelled incorrectly as I have named these from memory.
Lovely photos! I have forwarded link to this article to Peter Marriott and Tony Morton who may be willing and able to help with identification.
What a night it must have been, the moths you did find are beautiful. I hope someone can help with their names etc.