Hippotion scrofa (Scrofa Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania
Sighted at Claire Cottage: August to April
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania
Sighted at Claire Cottage: August to April
Hippotion scrofa, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 13 Feb 2018
Hippotion scrofa, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 12 Feb 2018
Hippotion scrofa, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 14 Sep 2020 09.45pm
Hippotion scrofa, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 19 Oct 2020
Hippotion scrofa, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 7 Mar 2019
H. scrofa joining us for Christmas Day drinks! Claire Cottage Dorrigo Plateau, 25 Dec 2018, 7.38 pm
Hippotion scrofa, Claire Cottage Dorrigo Plateau, 25 Dec 2018, 7.38 pm
Hippotion scrofa, attracted to moth light, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 15 March 2011
Hippotion scrofa, found resting on a thistle, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau, Dec 2002
Hippotion scrofa, attracted to our moth light, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 13 Oct 2017
Hippotion scrofa Claire Cottage, Dorrigo 19 Oct 2020 04.04am
H. scrofa exists in two colour forms, brown & grey, photographed here together.
Hippotion scrofa, Claire Cottage, 17 Nov 2020 08.48pm
This Rainbow Bee-eater at Urunga has caught an H. scrofa (Photo Vivian Jones)
A dark form larva, Claire Cottage
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Green form larva, Claire Cottage
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Two purplish form larvae at Claire Cottage showing how they rest in the ground cover during the day
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Galium leicocarpum (Bedstraw) in an open area at Claire Cottage
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H. scrofa larva found in January 1973 near Thredbo NSW
The very short caudal horn of H. scrofa
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We need better photos of these caudal horns!
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Final instar larva (found by Keith Deane) adjoining our property, Dorrigo roadside NSW, 9 Jan 2021
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The same larva as left photo showing tiny caudal horn. It was feeding on Gallium leicocarpum.
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Pupa (larva found by Keith Deane), Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 20 Jan 2021
Hippotion Scrofa, eclosed 19/02/21 just after dark from pupa of final instar dark coloured larva found by Keith Deane on 09/01/21.
Hippotion scrofa (Scrofa Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania
Moth Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval NATIVE food plants:
Larval EXOTIC food plants:
* DORRIGO PLATEAU:
* BALSAMINACEAE: Impatiens balsamina* (balsam), Impatiens oliveri* (balsam), Impatiens walleriana* (balsam).
* ONAGRACEAE: Fuchsia
* RUBIACEAE: Coprosma repens*, Manettia paraguariensis*, (synonym M. inflata*), Pentas lanceolata*, Rubia tinctorum*
ELSEWHERE: (as for Dorrigo Plateau ):
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.
Time to light - Dec 2018-2100 hrs., Mar 2019 19.30 to 21.30(6).,
Last Autumn sighting 2020 - 29h April.
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: 40mm to 43mm
Adult Moth: Size forewing tip to forewing tip: 40mm
Mature larva: length - 70mm. Colour forms in the final instar are Brown or occasionally Green.
MIGRATION: Leaving a moth light on all night, one night in October 2013, more than 100 Hippotion scrofa Hawk Moths were attracted to our moth sheet. Whilst we have no evidence or proof there is a chance that these moths were migrating. Most of them came to light between 00.00 and 04.00.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania
Moth Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Aug 2004; Sept 2002, 2013, 2019, 2020(25); Oct 2001, 2005, 2012(100+ in one night), 2014, 2017, 2019; 2020 (60+); Nov 2012; 2020(110+); Dec 2018(5), 2020; Jan 2018, 2020, 2021(26); Feb 2001, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2018(5), 2020, 2021(13); Mar 2019(7), 2020(16); 2021(11), Apr 2004, 2020(2);
- ELSEWHERE: Forestville, Sydney, NSW 1970's 80's & 90's & Point Lookout, N.E. National Park Dec 2013 (height 1650 metres)
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: OCT & NOV 2007, OCT 2012, JAN 2021 (5th instar)
- ELSEWHERE: Thredbo, NSW Jan 1973
Larval NATIVE food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU:
- ONAGRACEAE: Epilobium billardiereanum (Sweet Willow-herb),
- POLYGONACEAE: Persicara prostrate (Synonym Polygonum prostratum) - (Creeping Knotweed)
- RUBIACEAE: Asperula conferta, Galium leiocarpum (Bedstraw), Hedyotis sp.,
- VITACEAE: Cayratia clematidea (Native Grape), Cissus oblonga (Native Grape),
- ELSEWHERE: (as for Dorrigo Plateau ):
Larval EXOTIC food plants:
* DORRIGO PLATEAU:
* BALSAMINACEAE: Impatiens balsamina* (balsam), Impatiens oliveri* (balsam), Impatiens walleriana* (balsam).
* ONAGRACEAE: Fuchsia
* RUBIACEAE: Coprosma repens*, Manettia paraguariensis*, (synonym M. inflata*), Pentas lanceolata*, Rubia tinctorum*
ELSEWHERE: (as for Dorrigo Plateau ):
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.
Time to light - Dec 2018-2100 hrs., Mar 2019 19.30 to 21.30(6).,
Last Autumn sighting 2020 - 29h April.
Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing: 40mm to 43mm
Adult Moth: Size forewing tip to forewing tip: 40mm
Mature larva: length - 70mm. Colour forms in the final instar are Brown or occasionally Green.
MIGRATION: Leaving a moth light on all night, one night in October 2013, more than 100 Hippotion scrofa Hawk Moths were attracted to our moth sheet. Whilst we have no evidence or proof there is a chance that these moths were migrating. Most of them came to light between 00.00 and 04.00.