Draft: Hawkmoth Page format last updated 30/12/20
Above Photographs
Theretra Margarita (Boerhavia Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: North-western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, inland northern NSW, Sydney, Canberra, Northern Victoria
Sighted at Claire Cottage once only in February 2004
Below Photographs
Theretra Margarita (Boerhavia Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: North-western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, inland northern NSW, Sydney, Canberra, Northern Victoria
Moth Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval food plants:
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be September to April
Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: tip of thorax to tip of forewing: ??mm; tip of forewing horizontally to tip of other forewing: ??mm
Mature larva: length - ??mm.
Colour form: Final instar: various shades of brown.
Eye Spots: Final instar 7
Other distinguishing features: Very small caudal horn in final instar.
Caudal Horn: Larger straight backward pointing in young larva, shorter still backward pointing in final instar.
Draft: Butterfly Page format last updated 22/04/21
Species Heading above photos
Any Shield-skipper Signeta tymbophora
Wingspan: 27 - 28mm
Sighted Claire Cottage: Jan - Feb
There are two subspecies Telicota ancilla baudina (restricted to northern WA & northern NT) and Telicota ancilla ancilla restricted to eastern Australia.
Distribution: Fragmented range - Bunya Mountains SE QLD to North Brother Mountain (nr Laurieton) NSW (occurring only on Great Dividing Range), however from Gosford, NSW to Mt Dromedary near Narooma, NSW (occurring only in coastal areas).
Status Claire Cottage: rare, uncommon, seen annually, common, very common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
NOTE: Similar species: Two other Telicota Darters found in NSW, the Pale-orange (Telicota colon) and the Southern-large (Telicota anisodesma) and one Sedge-darter the Southern Sedge (Telicota eurychlora) have very similar markings and make identification of these four butterflies more difficult.
Species Heading below photos
Any Triangle Graphium choredon
Wingspan: 57 - 60mm
Sighted: Jan - Feb
Distribution: northern WA, the northern areas of NT, FNQ
There are two subspecies Telicota ancilla baudina (restricted to northern WA & northern NT) and Telicota ancilla ancilla restricted to eastern Australia.
Status Claire Cottage: rare, uncommon, seen annually, common, very common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
NOTE: Similar species: Two other Telicota Darters found in NSW, the Pale-orange (Telicota colon) and the Southern-large (Telicota anisodesma) and one Sedge-darter the Southern Sedge (Telicota eurychlora) have very similar markings and make identification of these four butterflies more difficult.
Butterfly Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval Food Plants:
Habitat where found at Claire Cottage: Rainforest edge
Thought to be breeding at Claire Cottage: Yes or No or unsure
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
First warm season sighting - Claire Cottage: 27/11/2016
Last warm season sighting - Claire Cottage: 21/02/2016
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Content Development Area
CARE: VERY SIMILAR SPECIES
Theretra celata --- Theretra indistincta --- Theretra inornata
These three Theretra species look similar in size but when seen together inornata is clearly a little smaller than celata and indistincta. They each have some colour ranges and their distribution ranges have many overlaps. Descriptions below are wild moths sitting naturally.
Theretra celata
* Forewings size - 38-51 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly light yellowish brown but usually slightly darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - a small (approx 10% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists above the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pink when freshly emerged browning with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - narrow dark brown to black, clearly exists from apex to inner margin.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - YES
* Discal spot - seldom present.
Theretra indistincta
* Forewings size - 35-48 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly grey or greenish grey but partially darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - an area (approx 25% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists transversing above and below the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pinkish when freshly emerged becoming dull white with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - a thin dark stripe (with often a narrow lighter coloured zone above it) running from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - NO
* Discal spot - nearly always present, very small, black in colour.
Theretra inornata
* Forewings size - 29-42mm long.
* Forewings colour - a light greyish brown
* Forewings shadow zone - none exists.
* Antennae - white. (Moulds,Tuttle & Lane do not address antennae colour).
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - usually a dark stripe, from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - not always - sometimes becomes blurred near apex, sometimes ends just short of apex.
* Discal spot - sometimes present, very small, black in colour.
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Above Photographs
Theretra Margarita (Boerhavia Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: North-western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, inland northern NSW, Sydney, Canberra, Northern Victoria
Sighted at Claire Cottage once only in February 2004
Below Photographs
Theretra Margarita (Boerhavia Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: North-western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, inland northern NSW, Sydney, Canberra, Northern Victoria
Moth Sightings:
- Moth Sightings: CLAIRE COTTAGE: JAN FEB 2004 MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: None to date
- ELSEWHERE: None to date
Larva Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None to date
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date
- ELSEWHERE: None to date
Larval food plants:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None to date
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere:
- ELSEWHERE: (as for Dorrigo Plateau plus) NYCTAGINACEAE - Boerhavia dominii, Boerhavia pubescens
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be September to April
Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: tip of thorax to tip of forewing: ??mm; tip of forewing horizontally to tip of other forewing: ??mm
Mature larva: length - ??mm.
Colour form: Final instar: various shades of brown.
Eye Spots: Final instar 7
Other distinguishing features: Very small caudal horn in final instar.
Caudal Horn: Larger straight backward pointing in young larva, shorter still backward pointing in final instar.
Draft: Butterfly Page format last updated 22/04/21
Species Heading above photos
Any Shield-skipper Signeta tymbophora
Wingspan: 27 - 28mm
Sighted Claire Cottage: Jan - Feb
There are two subspecies Telicota ancilla baudina (restricted to northern WA & northern NT) and Telicota ancilla ancilla restricted to eastern Australia.
Distribution: Fragmented range - Bunya Mountains SE QLD to North Brother Mountain (nr Laurieton) NSW (occurring only on Great Dividing Range), however from Gosford, NSW to Mt Dromedary near Narooma, NSW (occurring only in coastal areas).
Status Claire Cottage: rare, uncommon, seen annually, common, very common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
NOTE: Similar species: Two other Telicota Darters found in NSW, the Pale-orange (Telicota colon) and the Southern-large (Telicota anisodesma) and one Sedge-darter the Southern Sedge (Telicota eurychlora) have very similar markings and make identification of these four butterflies more difficult.
Species Heading below photos
Any Triangle Graphium choredon
Wingspan: 57 - 60mm
Sighted: Jan - Feb
Distribution: northern WA, the northern areas of NT, FNQ
There are two subspecies Telicota ancilla baudina (restricted to northern WA & northern NT) and Telicota ancilla ancilla restricted to eastern Australia.
Status Claire Cottage: rare, uncommon, seen annually, common, very common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
NOTE: Similar species: Two other Telicota Darters found in NSW, the Pale-orange (Telicota colon) and the Southern-large (Telicota anisodesma) and one Sedge-darter the Southern Sedge (Telicota eurychlora) have very similar markings and make identification of these four butterflies more difficult.
Butterfly Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: Aug 2006, Oct 2005, Nov 2002, Dec 2004, Jan 2001,
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere:
Larva Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None to date
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: None to date
Larval Food Plants:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: PHYLLANTHACEAE: Breynia oblongifolia
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: (as for Claire Cottage)
- ELSEWHERE: CAESALPINIACEAE - Senna coronilloides,
Habitat where found at Claire Cottage: Rainforest edge
Thought to be breeding at Claire Cottage: Yes or No or unsure
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
First warm season sighting - Claire Cottage: 27/11/2016
Last warm season sighting - Claire Cottage: 21/02/2016
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Content Development Area
CARE: VERY SIMILAR SPECIES
Theretra celata --- Theretra indistincta --- Theretra inornata
These three Theretra species look similar in size but when seen together inornata is clearly a little smaller than celata and indistincta. They each have some colour ranges and their distribution ranges have many overlaps. Descriptions below are wild moths sitting naturally.
Theretra celata
* Forewings size - 38-51 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly light yellowish brown but usually slightly darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - a small (approx 10% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists above the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pink when freshly emerged browning with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - narrow dark brown to black, clearly exists from apex to inner margin.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - YES
* Discal spot - seldom present.
Theretra indistincta
* Forewings size - 35-48 mm long.
* Forewings colour - uniformly grey or greenish grey but partially darker below medial stripe.
* Forewings shadow zone - an area (approx 25% of wing area) darker shadow zone exists transversing above and below the medial stripe.
* Antennae - pinkish when freshly emerged becoming dull white with age.
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - a thin dark stripe (with often a narrow lighter coloured zone above it) running from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - NO
* Discal spot - nearly always present, very small, black in colour.
Theretra inornata
* Forewings size - 29-42mm long.
* Forewings colour - a light greyish brown
* Forewings shadow zone - none exists.
* Antennae - white. (Moulds,Tuttle & Lane do not address antennae colour).
* Thorax - a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* Medial stripe - usually a dark stripe, from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
* Medial stripe reaches apex - not always - sometimes becomes blurred near apex, sometimes ends just short of apex.
* Discal spot - sometimes present, very small, black in colour.
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