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 May
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: Throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania
Sighted at Claire Cottage: August to May
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 August to May
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.
Interesting Observations:
* Leaving the moth light on all night one night in October 2012, more than 100 Hippotion scrofa's were attracted to our sheet. We wondered if it may have been a migration. Most arrived between 00.00 and 04.00.
* 29/01/23 a very warm night 20C brought over '150' H. scrofa's to our sheet by 02.30 - then bed beckoned.
* Again on 02/02/23 '50' H.scrofa's arrived by 11.45pm at which time the temp was 19C & bed beckoned.
Earliest Spring Moth sighting: August 2004
Latest Autumn Moth sighting: 05/05/22
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+), 2021, 2022, 2023 (3); Nov 2012; 2020(110+), 2023(39); Dec 2018(5), 2020, 2021(28), 2022(7), 2023(1); Jan 2018, 2020, 2021(26), 2022(115), 2023(170+with150+on 29th), 2024(16); Feb 2001, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2018(5), 2020, 2021(13), 2022(58); 2023(75), 2024(89); Mar 2019(7), 2020(16); 2021(11), 2022(6), 2023(15), 2024(26) Apr 2004, 2020(2), 2022(1); May 2022(1);
- 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 August to May
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.
Interesting Observations:
* Leaving the moth light on all night one night in October 2012, more than 100 Hippotion scrofa's were attracted to our sheet. We wondered if it may have been a migration. Most arrived between 00.00 and 04.00.
* 29/01/23 a very warm night 20C brought over '150' H. scrofa's to our sheet by 02.30 - then bed beckoned.
* Again on 02/02/23 '50' H.scrofa's arrived by 11.45pm at which time the temp was 19C & bed beckoned.
Earliest Spring Moth sighting: August 2004
Latest Autumn Moth sighting: 05/05/22