Hippotion celerio (Silver-striped Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, NSW, VIC, SA & Tasmania.
Sighted at Claire Cottage between September & May.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, NSW, VIC, SA & Tasmania.
Sighted at Claire Cottage between September & May.
Hippotion celerio, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau NSW 7th Sept 2017 - 2120 hrs (9°C)
The above Hippotion celerio showing the pink on the hindwings Sept 2017
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The same Hippotion celerio, it's underwings are fairly plain
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H. celerio feeding on Salvia at 6 pm. Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 18 Apr 2020
These Hawk Moths also like feeding on Pentas flowers, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 18 Apr 2020, 6 pm.
H. celerio, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau NSW, Sept 2013
H. celerio, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau NSW, Sept 2005
Hippotion celerio, Whyanbeel FNQ, 17 May 2018
2nd instar larva thought to be H.celerio, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 7 Nov 2007
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Same larva (it did not survive) as in left photo, found feeding on Rosebay (Epilobium sp.) Claire Cottage 7 Nov 2007
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Hippotion celerio larva, Claire Cottage, Nov 2005 feeding on Fuchsia
Whyanbeel FNQ, 28 May 2018 (Photo Hernan Escat)
This larva from Dorrigo has a different shaped horn to the one from Whyanbeel.
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The Whyanbeel larva with a straighter, longer horn. We don't know why.
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Hippotion celerio (Silver-striped Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, NSW, VIC, SA & Tasmania.
Moth Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval food plants:
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be September to April
Breeding season elsewhere - not confirmed but thought to be all year in the Tropics and limited to the warmer months in the cooler States.
Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: 40mm - tip of forewing to tip other forewing 40mm
Mature larva: length - ??mm. Colour forms in the final instar are Green, Brown, Red or Dark Grey.
Interesting information: Max Moulds responding to a 'Facebook' question regarding Hippotion celerio making an unusual sound -
"The sound heard in Hippotion celerio almost certainly was produced by the male genitalia that have friction scales on the outer side of the valvae used in stridulation. In the subtribe Choerocampina which includes Hippotion these friction scales are quite large and sound is produced by rubbing the valvae against the abdomen. The purpose is not entirely understood but one purpose seems to be to jam the 'radar' of bats but it may be used during mating. We briefly discuss this topic in our Australian Hawk Moth book published early in 2020".
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, QLD, NSW, VIC, SA & Tasmania.
Moth Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Sept 2002, 2013, 2017; 2020; Oct 2002, 2005, 2007, 2020 (2); Jan 2006; Apr 2020 (9)-last sightings 28/04/20; May 2020 (13th),
- ELSEWHERE: Whyanbeel, FNQ (May 2017),
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Nov 2005 & 2007 Claire Cottage,
- ELSEWHERE: Artarmon, Sydney, 1960's, Forestville, Sydney 1980's & 1990's.
Larval food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: ARACEAE: Alocasia brisbanensis,
- BALSAMINAEAE: Impatiens balsamina*, Impatiens oliveri*, Impatiens wallerana*
- DILLENIACEAE: Hibbertia scandens
- ONAGRACEAE; Fuchsia Sp.
- VITACEAE: Cayratia clematidea, Parthenocissus quinquefolia*, Parthenocissus tricuspidata*, Vitis vinifera*
- ELSEWHERE: As for Dorrigo Plateau plus APOCYNACEAE: Plumeria rubra (Frangipani)
- ARACEAE: Colocasia esculenta*, Typhonium brownii, Zantedeschia aethiopica*,
- BIGNONIACEAE: Podranea brycei*, Podranea ricasoliana*,
- CONVOLVULACEAE: Ipomoea batatas*, Ipomoea indica*
- NYCTAGINACEAE: Boerhavia chinensis, Boerhavia diffusa
- POLYGONACEAE: Emex australis*, Emex spinosa*, Rheum rhababarum* (Rhubarb), Rumex Sp. (Dock)
- RUBIACEAE: Pentas lanceolata*,
- VITACEAE: Clematicissus angustissima
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau: Thought to be September to April
Breeding season elsewhere - not confirmed but thought to be all year in the Tropics and limited to the warmer months in the cooler States.
Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: 40mm - tip of forewing to tip other forewing 40mm
Mature larva: length - ??mm. Colour forms in the final instar are Green, Brown, Red or Dark Grey.
Interesting information: Max Moulds responding to a 'Facebook' question regarding Hippotion celerio making an unusual sound -
"The sound heard in Hippotion celerio almost certainly was produced by the male genitalia that have friction scales on the outer side of the valvae used in stridulation. In the subtribe Choerocampina which includes Hippotion these friction scales are quite large and sound is produced by rubbing the valvae against the abdomen. The purpose is not entirely understood but one purpose seems to be to jam the 'radar' of bats but it may be used during mating. We briefly discuss this topic in our Australian Hawk Moth book published early in 2020".