Coequosa triangularis (Double-headed Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Southern QLD to Southern NSW
Sighted at Claire Cottage in February.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Southern QLD to Southern NSW
Sighted at Claire Cottage in February.
C. triangularis, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 22 Feb 2018, 10.04 pm
The magnificent Double-headed Hawk Moth, Dorrigo NSW, Jan 2012
A newly hatched moth, bred from larva found on our property, Dorrigo NSW, Jan 2016
Jan 2016 the newly emerged female has dried her wings and is ready to be released and take her first flight.
Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 26 Jan 2021, 10.00 pm
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Showing how C. triangularis curves its body 22 Feb 2018
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Egg on Persoonia media showing larval head , Dorrigo NSW, Feb 2014
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Egg showing red larval back stripe
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Newly hatched larva on Persoonia media, Claire Cottage, Feb 2014
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Imitating a Persoonia media leaf, Claire Cottage, May 2013
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Preparing for 7th moult, Sep 2013
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Day 2 - Head after moult, Sep 2013
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C. trianularis is in a genus of hawk moths that lacks a dorsal horn. The large black spot gives it the common name of Double-headed Hawk Moth
Final instar larva on Banksia integrifolia, Claire Cottage, Oct 2014
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Fully grown larva on Banksia integrifolia, Claire Cottage, Nov 2011
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Oct 2014 on Banksia integrifolia at Claire Cottage
Pre-pupation stage, Nov 2015
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Pre-pupation stage, Nov 2015
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Pupa, Dec 2011
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Hatched pupa and old skin discarded by larva
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Coequosa triangularis (Double-headed Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Southern QLD to Southern NSW
Moth Sightings: (f=female, m=male)
Larva Sightings:
Larval food plants:
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Feb to Nov (moths emerging Jan or Feb, larva pupating Nov or Dec.
Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth:
f 11/02/18 newly emerged-size 130mms sitting as in the bottom photo from wing-tip to wing-tip & 100mm tip of thorax to tip of either fore-wing. Attracted to light before 22.30.
m 12/02/18 well worn, measured 80mm tip head to tip fore-wing. Attracted to light before 22.30.
f 26/01/21 newly emerged.
Mature larva: length - ??mm. The colour form in the final instar is Green only.
Caudal Horn: None
DETAILED NOTES:
Details of eggs, larvae or pupa found at Claire Cottage:
* Final instar larva on Banksia Nov 2011
* 3 x 3rd instar larvae on same Persoonia May 2013.
* Egg on Persoonia Feb 2014
* Final instar larva on Banksia Oct 2014
Some details of our past Sydney Moth and Larva sightings & observations:
MOTHS.
* March 1976 - 3 Coequosa triangularis moths hatched out about 04.00pm near a Macadamia tree in our Forestville, Sydney, NSW
garden on a hot day following an afternoon thunder storm, one male & two females. All located in close proximity sitting low
down on small tree trunks. Largest female measured wingspan of 7.25 inches, body 3.75 inches, antenna 1.0 inch in length. The
male's wingspan were 6.0 inches.
* January 1977 (see LARVA notes below) - Coequosa triangularis moths hatched early in the month.
LARVA
* No date recorded - we located eggs of Coequosa triangularis on Banksia serrata and Grevillea robusta in the bush alongside our
Forestville back garden.
* July 1976 - We noted that the captive (& wild) Coequosa triangularis larvae we were feeding became idle and ceased eating whilst
remaining on their branches - a state of hibernation? - diapause.
* Early September 1976 the Coequosa triangularis larvae came out of hibernation and began feeding again.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Southern QLD to Southern NSW
Moth Sightings: (f=female, m=male)
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Jan 26th 2021 (f), Feb 2005, 2012, 2018 (f) & (m)
- ELSEWHERE: Forestville, Sydney (3 newly emerged moths late afternoon 5th March 1976 following a thunder storm - 2 x females, 1 x male, wings developed sitting near the base of Banana Palms growing along-side a Macadamia integrifolia - wingspan largest female 184mm, body length 76mm, width 19mm, antenna 25mm; male wingspan 152mm)
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Nov 2011(final instar), May 2013 (x3 all early instar observed in situ through to Nov 2013), Feb 2014 (egg), Oct 2014 (final instar), July 2015 (early instar-observed in situ through to Dec 2015)
- ELSEWHERE: Please refer to the 'DETAILED NOTES' below.
Larval food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Proteaceae: Banksia ericifolia, Banksia integrifolia, Banksia serrata, Macadamia integrifolia, Persoonia media, Stenocarpus sinuatus
- ELSEWHERE: As for Dorrigo Plateau plus Proteaceae: Banksia marginata , Banksia spinulosa, Grevillea robusta, Hakea Sp., Macadamia integrifolia, Persoonia lanceolata, Persoonia levis
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Feb to Nov (moths emerging Jan or Feb, larva pupating Nov or Dec.
Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth:
f 11/02/18 newly emerged-size 130mms sitting as in the bottom photo from wing-tip to wing-tip & 100mm tip of thorax to tip of either fore-wing. Attracted to light before 22.30.
m 12/02/18 well worn, measured 80mm tip head to tip fore-wing. Attracted to light before 22.30.
f 26/01/21 newly emerged.
Mature larva: length - ??mm. The colour form in the final instar is Green only.
Caudal Horn: None
DETAILED NOTES:
Details of eggs, larvae or pupa found at Claire Cottage:
* Final instar larva on Banksia Nov 2011
* 3 x 3rd instar larvae on same Persoonia May 2013.
* Egg on Persoonia Feb 2014
* Final instar larva on Banksia Oct 2014
Some details of our past Sydney Moth and Larva sightings & observations:
MOTHS.
* March 1976 - 3 Coequosa triangularis moths hatched out about 04.00pm near a Macadamia tree in our Forestville, Sydney, NSW
garden on a hot day following an afternoon thunder storm, one male & two females. All located in close proximity sitting low
down on small tree trunks. Largest female measured wingspan of 7.25 inches, body 3.75 inches, antenna 1.0 inch in length. The
male's wingspan were 6.0 inches.
* January 1977 (see LARVA notes below) - Coequosa triangularis moths hatched early in the month.
LARVA
* No date recorded - we located eggs of Coequosa triangularis on Banksia serrata and Grevillea robusta in the bush alongside our
Forestville back garden.
* July 1976 - We noted that the captive (& wild) Coequosa triangularis larvae we were feeding became idle and ceased eating whilst
remaining on their branches - a state of hibernation? - diapause.
* Early September 1976 the Coequosa triangularis larvae came out of hibernation and began feeding again.