Theretra latreillii (Pale Brown Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: North-western Australia, Northern Territory, CYP & QLD, south to Wollongong, NSW.
Sighted at Claire Cottage in February & March.
CARE: NOTE VERY SIMILAR SPECIES - Theretra latreillii differs from an almost identical Hawkmoth Theretra tryoni by having a dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base. In all other regards the two species appear identical.
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: North-western Australia, Northern Territory, CYP & QLD, south to Wollongong, NSW.
Sighted at Claire Cottage in February & March.
CARE: NOTE VERY SIMILAR SPECIES - Theretra latreillii differs from an almost identical Hawkmoth Theretra tryoni by having a dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base. In all other regards the two species appear identical.
Theretra latreillii, Wyanbeel FNQ, May 2013
Theretra latreillii, Claire Cottage Dorrigo Plateau, 1 Mar 2020
Theretra latreillii, Claire Cottage Dorrigo Plateau, 1 Mar 2020
Theretra latreillii, showing the dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing bases, Claire Cottage Dorrigo Plateau, 1 Mar 2020
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FOR COMPARISON - the almost identical species Theretra tryoni, lacking the dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing bases.
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Theretra latreillii, Wonga Beach, FNQ, May 2014
A Theretra latreillii egg laid on Cayratia clematidea collected in Forestville, NSW, 1 Apr 2019
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A Theretra latreillii newly hatched larva, 8 Apr 2019
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1st instar Theretra latreillii larva's first leaf meal (after eating its egg shell) creating a hole within the leaf 8th April 2019
2nd instar Theretra latreillii larva with cream stripes and no eyespot - development of spiracles evident 15 Apr 2019
3rd instar Theretra latreillii larva showing development of the eyespot 19 Apr 2019
4th instar Theretra latreillii larva - eyespot now fully developed and caudal horn now curved 23 Apr 2019
5th instar Theretra latreillii larva (just changed from 4th instar) - caudal horn more stumpy 29 Apr 2019
Theretra latreillii 5th instar eyespots
Theretra latreillii larva, green form, feeding on Cayratia clematidea, Sydney, 29 May 2013
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Theretra latreillii 5th instar larva, black form, feeding on Cayratia clematidea, Sydney, 29 May 2013
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Theretra latreillii 5th instar larva, brown form, feeding on Cayratia clematidea, Sydney, 19 Mar 2006
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Theretra latreillii 4th instar larva, Whyanbeel FNQ, 4 May 2014
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4th instar larva, Mar 2021, Coramba NSW (Photo Rowan McCabe)
Theretra latreillii 5th instar larva brown form feeding on Sigesbeckia sp., Whyanbeel FNQ, 4 May 2017
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4th instar larva, Mar 2021, Coramba NSW (Photo Rowan McCabe)
Theretra latreillii 5th instar brown form, Whyanbeel FNQ, 4 May 2017
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1st instar
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2nd instar
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3rd instar
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4th instar
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5th instar
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There seems to be a great variety of size and colour in these caudal horns.
Theretra latreillii (Pale Brown Hawk Moth)
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: From Top End of North-western Australia, Northern Territory, CYP then south through coastal QLD & coastal NSW to the Wollongong area.
Moth Sightings:
Egg Sightings: Forestville, Sydney, NSW March 2019 (2 on Cayratia clematidea),
Larva Sightings:
Larval food plants:
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: ?? - ??mm
Mature final instar larva: length - 70-75mm; we have seen 3 colour forms; Green, Reddish brown & Black.
Final instar eye-spots: 1 brightly coloured eyespot each side-base colour white within a very fine black circle with a dash of blue in the front half of the spot followed by black and red and finally the white. The eyespot only becomes visible when the larva is alarmed.
Larva size after hatching from egg - 5mm
We have found this moth at Claire Cottage on the Dorrigo Plateau.
Distribution: From Top End of North-western Australia, Northern Territory, CYP then south through coastal QLD & coastal NSW to the Wollongong area.
Moth Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Feb 2004, Mar 2020,
- ELSEWHERE: Bellingen Island, Bellingen, NSW & Whyanbeel, FNQ May 2013, Wonga Beach, FNQ May 2014
Egg Sightings: Forestville, Sydney, NSW March 2019 (2 on Cayratia clematidea),
Larva Sightings:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date
- ELSEWHERE: Forestville, Sydney, NSW March 2006, May 2013 & Whyanbeel, FNQ May 2014 & 2017
Larval food plants:
- DORRIGO PLATEAU:
- BALSAMINACEAE: Impatiens balsamina*(Balsam), Impatiens oliveri*(Balsam), Impatiens wallerana*(Balsam),
- LYTHRACEAE: Lagerstroemia indica*(Crepe Myrtle).
- ONAGRACEAE: Fuchsia
- RUBIACEAE: Pentas lanceolata*(Pentas),
- VITACEAE: Cayratia clematidea, Cissus antarctica, Cissus oblonga, Parthenocissus quinquefolia*(Virginia Creeper), Parthenocissus tricuspidata*(Virginia Creeper), Vitis vinifera*(Grapevine),
- ELSEWHERE: As for Dorrigo Plateau plus.
- VITACEAE: Cissus opaca, Cissus repens, Cissus rhombifolia,(Grape Ivy), Leea indica
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: ?? - ??mm
Mature final instar larva: length - 70-75mm; we have seen 3 colour forms; Green, Reddish brown & Black.
Final instar eye-spots: 1 brightly coloured eyespot each side-base colour white within a very fine black circle with a dash of blue in the front half of the spot followed by black and red and finally the white. The eyespot only becomes visible when the larva is alarmed.
Larva size after hatching from egg - 5mm
