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 January & February.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Southern QLD to Southern NSW
Sighted at Claire Cottage in January & February.
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.
f 13/01/22 newly emerged-size 120mms sitting as in the bottom photo from wing-tip to wing-tip & 90mm tip of thorax to tip of either fore-wing. Attracted to light before 23.00.
f 09/02/24 - wing-tip to wing-tip approx 100mm - 23.23. - Tip of thorax to a FW wing tip 90mm,
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 2021(26th-f), 2022( 13th-f), (30th-m), (31st-2m), ; 2023(24th-f),
- Feb 2005, 2012, 2018 (f) & (m), 2024(10th-2)
- 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) Nov 2021 (final instar).
- 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.
f 13/01/22 newly emerged-size 120mms sitting as in the bottom photo from wing-tip to wing-tip & 90mm tip of thorax to tip of either fore-wing. Attracted to light before 23.00.
f 09/02/24 - wing-tip to wing-tip approx 100mm - 23.23. - Tip of thorax to a FW wing tip 90mm,
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.