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.
Male Coequosa australasiae came to light, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 24 Feb 2020
Male C. australasiae found at the BP Service Station at Clybucca (near Kempsey) NSW in October 2004. We moved it to a safer location on a Eucalyptus tree nearby hoping it would fly away at dusk.
A male, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau, 8 Mar 2019, 2.26 am
Female Coequosa australiasiae, Somersby Falls NSW, Feb 2021 (Photo Emma Nathan)
Showing the fatter body of the female C. australiasiae, Somersby Falls NSW, Feb 2021 (Photo Emma Nathan)
A male showing the classic body stance, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau NSW, 8 Mar 2019
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Female, Sommersby Falls NSW, Feb 2021 (Photo Emma Nathan)
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Head of a male
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Coremata tufts in a male moth that release pheronomes
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This worn male came to a moth light at Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 12 Feb 2018
2nd instar found on Eucalyptus saligna, 27 Mar 2020
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Newly changed to 3rd instar, 5 Apr 2020
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3rd instar, 14 Apr 2020
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3rd changing to 4th instar, 18 Apr 2020
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4th instar, 2 May 2020
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Entered 5th instar 22/09/20 - photo 26/09/20 following winter diapause
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5th instar changing to 6th, 25 Oct 2020 larval length 70mm.
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New head developing at 5th to 6th instar, 25 Oct 2020
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Developing red spot, 25 Oct 2020
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The head and rear claspers - the only part of the cast 5th instar skin not eaten
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Changing from 5th to 6th instar, skin change almost completed, 29 Oct 2020
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Now in its 6th instar a few hours after shedding its old skin enjoying its first 6th instar feed by eating its cast skin
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6th instar, 31 Oct 2020 Larval length 70mm, width @ widest point 10mm
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7th instar, 15 Nov 2020
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Final 7th instar 11 days prior to pupating, 7 Dec 2020
Final instar larva (Photo Jim Tuttle) NB. Depending upon conditions there may be 6-8 instars, 7 being the most common.
C. australasiae is in a genus of hawk moths that lacks a dorsal horn (Taken from a photo by Jim Tuttle)
A female reared in the early 1980's, Forestville NSW
Reared on Eucalyptus in the early 1980's, Forestville NSW
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.
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; 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.
