Tetrachroa edwardsi (Parsonsia Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau. 

Distribution:  From close to Innisfail, FNQ to Southern NSW near Victorian border.

 ​Sighted at Claire Cottage October to January.
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Tetrachroa edwardsi, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau, NSW, Oct 27th 2018
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T. edwardsi showing the underside, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau, NSW, Oct 2018
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T. edwardsi came to light about 9 pm, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau, NSW, Oct 27th 2018. Note the unusual wing structure (wavy lines) in the centre of the forewing.
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T. edwardsi's gorgeous russet-red hindwing 27/10/18
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T. edwardsi looks great head-on as well 27/10/18
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Tetrachroa edwardsi Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, NSW 24/10/20
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Tetrachroa edwardsi Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, NSW 24/10/20
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Three Tetrachroa edwardsi, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, NSW 24/10/20
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Tetrachroa edwardsi, Watagans NSW, Nov 1996
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Watagans NSW, Nov 1996
 
Tetrachroa edwardsi (Parsonsia Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.

Distribution: From close to Innisfail, FNQ to Southern NSW near Victorian border.

Moth Sightings:  
  • CLAIRE COTTAGE: Oct 2018, 2019, 2020 (3), Nov 2018, 2020 (6) , Dec 2019; Jan 2020
  • CLAIRE COTTAGE: dates & times adults attracted to moth light;                                                                                            2018 27/10/18 (2100), 30/10/18 (2230), 04/11/18 (2100), 07/11/18 (2100).                                                                                                                2019 26/10/19 (2030) 27/10/19 (0200) & (2030) 05/12/19 (2130)                                                                                                                       2020 06/01/20 (2212), 4/10/20 x 3 (00.30-03.30), 11/11/20 x 4 (21.00 -23.15),  18/11/20 x 2 (00.00-02.30) 
  • Elsewhere on DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date.
  • ELSEWHERE:  We first found Tetrachroa edwardsi November 1996 in the Watagan State Forest, north of Sydney, when a newly emerged specimen was attracted to a moth light being run by Bart Hacobian. Then on 24th August 2006, during the day, we found a newly emerged specimen sitting on the outside wall of a retail building in a Coffs Harbour Industrial Estate.

Larva Sightings: 
  • DORRIGO PLATEAU:  None to date
  • ELSEWHERE:  None to date

Larval food plants:
  • DORRIGO PLATEAU:  APOCYNACEAE: Parsonsia straminea (Common Silkpod or Monkey Rope Vine)
  • ELSEWHERE:  As for Dorrigo Plateau plus; Parsonsia plaesiophylla
 
Breeding season on the Dorrigo Plateau:  Thought to be September to April

Flight habit: Nocturnal - Active at night.

Adult Moth: Size at rest - tip of thorax to tip of forewing 64mm to 70mm. Tip of forewing to tip of other forewing 55mm to 60mm.
Mature larva:  length - ??mm.     Colour form - green
Pupation: Thought to occur in a soft web cocoon below the food plant vine either within the soil or within leaf litter.

Interesting observations:
* The authors of the book Hawkmoths of Australia (published January 2020) advised us in 2013 that Tetrachroa edwardsi feeds on Parsonsia straminea. As at June 2020 we are yet to find a larva or an egg ourselves searching this common vine on our property frequently. We have chosen Parsonsia Hawk as its common name for our website.
In 2020 Jim Tuttle advised us as follows; As for T. edwardsi, the way I first worked out the life history was as I did with several other species whose life histories were unknown. I had a contact in southern NSW who indicated he occasionally had adults come to lights in the spring. He agreed to call me when the first adult(s) showed up at light. We agreed that I would visit two weeks hence from that first adult appearing and he would take me to the exact site. At that time, the larval host was unknown but I suspected it to be a vine (unknown what kind) because John Olive had a 30-year old image of a last instar larvae that was unidentified and feeding on a vine which also could not be identified because it literally only showed a length of vine (no leaves). Grhhh!! When I got to the collecting site that spring, I started looking at vines, one massive vine just putting out new growth (later id confirmed as P. straminea). Within minutes, I found two eggs, one of which hatched soon after safely putting it in the container. In your garden, focus exclusively on the tenderest new leaves. Using this approach, I have found eggs/early instar larvae twice at the site mentioned above and once near Brisbane.

* 03/03/19 An interesting record from Tod Burrows, Gold Coast, Qld., providing important information regarding moth eclosing from its pupa: "I’ll have to check the exact time I took the images but I think it was about 8pm 3/3/19 that I first came across the moth. I could tell from the wing position that it had recently eclosed. It was about 1.5m off the ground hanging from low parts of the Parsonsia straminea. The vine was densely covering and appears to have killed the Swamp Oak it is growing on. I wonder if the moth had pupated in the ground or perhaps within the dense foliage of the vine." Trevor Deane thanks Todd for the information.
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​* 24/10/20 & 25/10/20; 3 adults caged both nights with cuttings of Parsonsia straminea in an attempt to obtain eggs. no eggs deposited. It proved impossible to locate Parsonsia straminea cuttings with healthy new growth which may have better encouraged our moths to deposit eggs. The 3 moths were released after dark tonight on 26/10/20.
* Conclusion: either Tetrachroa edwardsi is reluctant to deposit eggs in captivity or the 3 specimens attracted to light on 24/10/20 had not mated prior to capture.