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 January, February & March.
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CARE: ALMOST IDENTICAL SPECIES
Theretra inornata --- Theretra latreillii --- Theretra tryoni
These three Theretra species occur in similar size and colouring and their distribution range has many overlaps.
Theretra inornata
* has a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* has one distinct dark medial stripe on the forewing from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - then often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
*medial stripe reaches apex ? - not always - sometimes becomes blurred near apex, and sometimes ends just short of apex.
*discal spot - sometimes present, very small, black in colour.
* lacks any medial stripe dark spots at vein interruptions.
* lacks any partially developed supplementary stripes.
Theretra latreillii -
* has a dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* has its medial stripe on the forewing often interrupted at vein intersections, interruptions are marked by a dark spot.
* has partially developed supplementary stripes parallel with the medial stripe.
* often has a black termen on the forewings (care may not be present in every specimen).
* may have black patches on the abdomen (care they are not always visible).
Theretra tryoni
* has its medial stripe on the forewing often interrupted at vein intersections, interruptions are marked by a dark spot.
* has partially developed supplementary stripes parallel with the medial stripe.
* has a black & white termen on the forewings (care may not be obvious in a well worn specimen).
* lacks black patches on the abdomen
* lacks the dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base.
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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 January, February & March.
******************************************************************************************
CARE: ALMOST IDENTICAL SPECIES
Theretra inornata --- Theretra latreillii --- Theretra tryoni
These three Theretra species occur in similar size and colouring and their distribution range has many overlaps.
Theretra inornata
* has a whitish stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* has one distinct dark medial stripe on the forewing from near central inner margin to near wing apex where it fades - then often replaced by a second short blurred stripe to apex.
*medial stripe reaches apex ? - not always - sometimes becomes blurred near apex, and sometimes ends just short of apex.
*discal spot - sometimes present, very small, black in colour.
* lacks any medial stripe dark spots at vein interruptions.
* lacks any partially developed supplementary stripes.
Theretra latreillii -
* has a dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base, intensity may vary between specimens.
* has its medial stripe on the forewing often interrupted at vein intersections, interruptions are marked by a dark spot.
* has partially developed supplementary stripes parallel with the medial stripe.
* often has a black termen on the forewings (care may not be present in every specimen).
* may have black patches on the abdomen (care they are not always visible).
Theretra tryoni
* has its medial stripe on the forewing often interrupted at vein intersections, interruptions are marked by a dark spot.
* has partially developed supplementary stripes parallel with the medial stripe.
* has a black & white termen on the forewings (care may not be obvious in a well worn specimen).
* lacks black patches on the abdomen
* lacks the dull white stripe on the thorax adjacent to the wing base.
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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 4 colour forms; Green, Light brown, 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 with black, red and finally whitein the back half. The eyespot is not exposed until the larva is disturbed.
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:
- Jan 2022,
- Feb 2004, 2024(2),
- 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: Mar 2022,
- 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: Gynochthodes jasminoides, *Pentas lanceolata (Pentas), Psychotria lonicfroides,
- VITACEAE: Cayratia clematidea (Wild Grape), Cissus antarctica (Kangaroo Vine), Cissus oblonga, *Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper), *Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Virginia Creeper), *Vitis vinifera (Grapevine),
- ELSEWHERE: As for Dorrigo Plateau plus.
- ARACEAE: *Amorphophallus bulbifer,
- ONAGRACEAE: *Ludwigia hyssopifolia, L. octovalvis, L. peploides
- POLYGONACEAE: *Rumex acetosa (Sorrell)
- RUBIACEAE: Spermacoce latifolia (Square stem)
- VITACEAE: Cayratia maritima (Wild Grape), Cissus adnata (Heart-leaved Grape), Cissus repens, *Cissus rhombifolia (Grape Ivy), Clematocissus opaca (Pepper Vine), Leea indica (Bandicoot Berry), *Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper), *P. tricuspidata, Tetrastigma nitens, *Vitis vinifera x rupestris.
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 4 colour forms; Green, Light brown, 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 with black, red and finally whitein the back half. The eyespot is not exposed until the larva is disturbed.
Larva size after hatching from egg - 5mm