About Owlet Moths
Noctuidae is the largest family of the Lepidoptera. It is a mega-diverse family with moths in a huge array of sizes, shapes and colours. Males have a kidney-shaped spot which is a useful diagnostic feature.
Yellow Tiger Moth
Yellow Tiger Moth. Photo: Robert Whyte
Undersides. Photo: Robert Whyte
White-banded Noctuid Moth
The adult White-banded Noctuid Moth Donuca rubropicta has a striking pattern, with bold white lines and two large eyespots, and is found over South-East Queensland, including Brisbane, and north-east New South Wales. Subfamily Catocalinae. The eye spots have a delicate blue green shade (iris) with a black centre (pupil) and blue highlight, fringed with white. There are radiating lines of blue through the mostly purple-brown colour of the wings. The markings on the wings resemble the face of a predator. This may be effective as the moth allows close approach. Closely related to Donuca orbigera, which has a more obvious toothy grin face on its wings. Wingspan over 50 mm (this one was about 60 mm). Abdomen red. Photographed Friday 4 January 2008 at Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap.
Photo: Robert Whyte
Grammodes justa
The adult moths of this species are dark brown with two parallel white lines across each forewing, and one across each hindwing. The moths have a wingspan of about 40 mm. They are found over the northern half of Australia, including Brisbane.
Photo: Robert Whyte
Guava Moth
This Guava Moth caterpillar Ophiusa disjungens caterpillar was found on a Turpentine Syncarpria Glomulifera, a tree in the Myrtaceae, and reared to the moth seen in the pictures below. Photo: Robert Whyte
The adult moths of this species are purplish-brown, with a dark kidney-shaped mark near the centre of each forewing, and often a purple spot at each forewing tip. Each hindwing has a broad black mark along the margin. The Guava Moth feeds on various species of Myrtaceae, including Eucalyptus and in this case Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera and is sometimes a pest on Guava Psidium guajava.
Photo: Robert Whyte
Photo: Robert Whyte
