Coequosa australasiae (Eucalyptus Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Atherton Tableland, FNQ to Mallacoota, far north-eastern Victoria
Sighted at Claire Cottage during February & March.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Atherton Tableland, FNQ to Mallacoota, far north-eastern Victoria
Sighted at Claire Cottage during February & March.
Coequosa australasiae (Eucalyptus Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Atherton Tableland, FNQ to Mallacoota, far north-eastern Victoria
Moth Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval food plants:
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be February to March (for adult moths emerging and March to November for full larval development (up to 8 instars).
2020 larva - found 27/03/20 @ Claire Cottage - thought to be in 2nd instar - see photo above - we took the larva indoors.
Changed to 3rd instar 05/04/20 - 9 days later - see photo above
Changed to 4th instar 20/04/20 - 15 days later - see photo above (photo taken on 02/05/20)
Changed to 5th instar 22/09/20 - 155 days later - see photo above (photo taken on 26/09/20)
Began new skin development to 6th instar 24/10/20 - 187 days later - (see photos)
Completed skin change to 6th instar mid afternoon 29/10/20 - 192 days later (see photos)
Entered leaf litter to pupate over-night 18th / 19th Dec 2020 - 242 days later
Rearing Conditions: single March 2020 collected wild larva. This larva was reared indoors using two rooms at different periods neither of which have been heated - in winter day temperatures would not have exceed 15C but may have been below 10C and night temperatures may have dropped below 5C but would never exceed 10C. Spring (01/09/20) will see temps slowly rise for a few weeks with occasional cold days returning.
In Sydney: Jul 1976 - caterpillars sat stationary on leaves both in wild and captivity. Beginning September they came out of aestivation. Moths hatched 1977.
Flight Habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: 85mm
Adult Moth: Size forewing tip to forewing tip: 80mm
Mature larva: length - 110mm. Colour form green. Diagonal body stripes: white with smaller irregular red markings.
Caudal Horn: None.
Other local area Moth Sightings: Feb 2022 (Phil Gilmour - Gleniffer, nr Bellingen),
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Atherton Tableland, FNQ to Mallacoota, far north-eastern Victoria
Moth Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU:
- Feb 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 (m), 2023, 2024;
- Mar 2019
- ELSEWHERE: Forestville, Sydney (5 Mar 1976) - one male and two females near Macadamia - Female wingspan 7 1/4", body 3" x 3/4"; Male wingspan 6". Clybucca old BP Service Station (near Kempsey) NSW (Oct 2004)
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Mar 27th 2020 (2nd instar)
- ELSEWHERE: Artarmon, Sydney (1960's) Forestville, Sydney (early 1980's)
Larval food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Myrtaceae: Eucalyptus saligna
- ELSEWHERE: (as for Dorrigo Plateau)
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be February to March (for adult moths emerging and March to November for full larval development (up to 8 instars).
2020 larva - found 27/03/20 @ Claire Cottage - thought to be in 2nd instar - see photo above - we took the larva indoors.
Changed to 3rd instar 05/04/20 - 9 days later - see photo above
Changed to 4th instar 20/04/20 - 15 days later - see photo above (photo taken on 02/05/20)
Changed to 5th instar 22/09/20 - 155 days later - see photo above (photo taken on 26/09/20)
Began new skin development to 6th instar 24/10/20 - 187 days later - (see photos)
Completed skin change to 6th instar mid afternoon 29/10/20 - 192 days later (see photos)
Entered leaf litter to pupate over-night 18th / 19th Dec 2020 - 242 days later
Rearing Conditions: single March 2020 collected wild larva. This larva was reared indoors using two rooms at different periods neither of which have been heated - in winter day temperatures would not have exceed 15C but may have been below 10C and night temperatures may have dropped below 5C but would never exceed 10C. Spring (01/09/20) will see temps slowly rise for a few weeks with occasional cold days returning.
In Sydney: Jul 1976 - caterpillars sat stationary on leaves both in wild and captivity. Beginning September they came out of aestivation. Moths hatched 1977.
Flight Habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: 85mm
Adult Moth: Size forewing tip to forewing tip: 80mm
Mature larva: length - 110mm. Colour form green. Diagonal body stripes: white with smaller irregular red markings.
Caudal Horn: None.
Other local area Moth Sightings: Feb 2022 (Phil Gilmour - Gleniffer, nr Bellingen),