Cephonodes australis (syn. C. hylas australis)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Northern WA, Northern Territory, Queensland, Northern NSW & occasionally south as far as the Gosford area on NSW Central Coast.
Sighted at Claire Cottage: December 2020, February 2020.
Identification: As three of the four Cephonodes species are very similar, we have relied on the white underside of the thorax, to determine that the moth photographed in the evening of 20th February 2020 is a C. australis.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Northern WA, Northern Territory, Queensland, Northern NSW & occasionally south as far as the Gosford area on NSW Central Coast.
Sighted at Claire Cottage: December 2020, February 2020.
Identification: As three of the four Cephonodes species are very similar, we have relied on the white underside of the thorax, to determine that the moth photographed in the evening of 20th February 2020 is a C. australis.
Cephanodes australis, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 8 Dec 2020
Cephanodes australis, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 8 Dec 2020
Cephanodes australis, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 8 Dec 2020
Cephanodes australis, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 8 Dec 2020
Cephonodes australis feeding on Buddleia, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 20 Feb 2020, 5.00 pm
Cephonodes australis underside showing white thorax, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 20 Feb 2020, 5.00 pm
These photos clearly show the black tail hairs fanned out to assist stabilization as the moth hovers at a flower.
Cephonodes australis, Yeppoon Qld, 23 Nov 2019 (Photo Lorelle Campbell)
Cephonodes australis, Yeppoon Qld, 23 Nov 2019 (Photo Lorelle Campbell)
Cephonodes australis
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Northern WA, Northern Territory, Queensland, Northern NSW & occasionally as far as the Gosford area on NSW Central Coast.
Moth Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval food plants:
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be September to April
Flight habit: Active mostly during the day - diurnal
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: ?? - ??mm
Mature larva: length - ??mm. Colour forms in the final instar are a Green form & a Brown form and combinations of both.
Caudal Horn
Difference between C. kingii and C. australis
From Dick Whitford FNQ: The dark area of the wing tips in C. kingii is noticeable broader than in C. australis
From Carol Deane: C. australis also has a red stripe across its thorax. This varies in thickness with each specimen.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Northern WA, Northern Territory, Queensland, Northern NSW & occasionally as far as the Gosford area on NSW Central Coast.
Moth Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Feb 2020, Dec 2020
- ELSEWHERE: None to date.
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date.
- ELSEWHERE: None to date.
Larval food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Exotic Gardenia sps. as shown below
- ELSEWHERE: RUBIACEAE: Gardenia jasminoides* ( Gardenia augusta*) Larsenaikia ochreata (Syn:Gardenia ochreata) Pavetta australiensis, P. brownii, P. granitica, Psychotria sp., Psydrax (+ Canthium) odorata (perfumed canthium).
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be September to April
Flight habit: Active mostly during the day - diurnal
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: ?? - ??mm
Mature larva: length - ??mm. Colour forms in the final instar are a Green form & a Brown form and combinations of both.
Caudal Horn
Difference between C. kingii and C. australis
From Dick Whitford FNQ: The dark area of the wing tips in C. kingii is noticeable broader than in C. australis
From Carol Deane: C. australis also has a red stripe across its thorax. This varies in thickness with each specimen.
