Hippotion boerhaviae (Pale Striated Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Cape York Peninsula, FNQ to Dorrigo Plateau, Mid-north Coast, NSW.
Extension of Range from Brisbane: on 08/03/21 we sighted photo evidence of a reported sighting in NSW indicating a range extension to the south - refer the 07/03/2021 photo below and the 'Interesting Observation' note in the text further below.
Further extension of Range: 30/01/23 our first sighting at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau of what appears to be a newly emerged specimen (photo immediately below).
We have found this moth on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Cape York Peninsula, FNQ to Dorrigo Plateau, Mid-north Coast, NSW.
Extension of Range from Brisbane: on 08/03/21 we sighted photo evidence of a reported sighting in NSW indicating a range extension to the south - refer the 07/03/2021 photo below and the 'Interesting Observation' note in the text further below.
Further extension of Range: 30/01/23 our first sighting at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau of what appears to be a newly emerged specimen (photo immediately below).
Hippotion boerhaviae (Pale Striated Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Cape York Peninsula, FNQ to Dorrigo Plateau, Mid-north Coast, NSW.
Extension of Range from Brisbane: on 08/03/21 we sighted photo evidence of a reported sighting in NSW indicating a range extension to the south - refer the 07/03/2021 photo below and the 'Interesting Observation' note in the text further below.
Further extension of Range: 30/01/23 our first sighting at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau of what appears to be a newly emerged specimen (see first photo on page above).
Moth Sightings:
- Moth Sightings: @ CLAIRE COTTAGE: (note: other location sightings shown in brackets). JAN 2023 FEB MAR (2021-Alsonville NSW) APR MAY JUN JUL (2004-Whyanbeel FNQ) AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
- Jan 2023 (fresh specimen came to light around 01.00am)
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None
- ELSEWHERE: Whyanbeel, FNQ July 2004; Alstonville,northern NSW March 2021;
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date
- ELSEWHERE: None to date
Larval food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: N/A
- ELSEWHERE: HYPOXIDACEAE - Curculigo ensifolia; RUBIACEAE – * Pentas lanceolata (will accept in captivity),
- Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: N/A
Breeding Season Elsewhere: Thought to be all year in FNQ and Sept to April in southern QLD. - Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: Colour ranges from brown to grey; Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: approx 60mms
Mature larva: length - 70+mm.
Colour form: Final instar: only Brown or Black forms known.
Eye Spots: 7 - Final instar, on the first abdomnal segment there is a larger black eye-spot, outlined in brown and containing white dots with a black & white smaller eye spot on each of the other 6 segments. In earlier instars whilst there are also 7 eyespots they are coloured differently.
Other distinguishing larva features: There is a single or pair of outlined pale spots on each segment
Dorsal Horn: Long and Black. Has a reddish base and a white tip. Forward curving in young larva but shorter backward-curving in final instar. As in Theretra oldenlandiae the Caudal Horn is mobile in the 5th instar.
Interesting observation: 08/03/21 A photo posted on Facebook group - Australian butterflies and moths by Rose Wisemantel of a Hippotion boerhaviae taken at Alstonville, northern NSW (on 07/03/21) is now shown above. This March 2021 sighting represented an extension of the H. boerhaviae range to the south, the first known record for a sighting in NSW.
Interesting observation: 30/01/23 a fresh specimen (our first) came to light at Claire Cottage around 01.00am. This is a big range extension with the previous known southern sighting being at Alstonville, northern NSW in March 2021.
Interesting observation: 25/02/23 whilst working in our developing Rainforest Arboretum here at Claire Cottage I noticed that our Curculigo capitulata - (name changed in 2019 to Molineria capitulata) has a lot of larval type eating on its leaves - whilst this species of Curculigo (now Molineria) is not shown as a food-plant in 'Hawkmoths of Australia', for Hippotion boerhaviae, clearly it is a plant I need to monitor more closely.