During today's promenade almost stepped on this huge moth (about 5 inches long) lying motionless on the path - clearly a recent death. Suspect it is a hawk moth particularly with its mysterious evil looking face. #nature#moth#humor#humour#melbourne#photography#fotografie
Lichen moths occur throughout the world. In Australia there are over 200 species, mostly endemic. They often have bright colours and are sometimes called tiger moths.
They feed on lichens, some algae and their appearance can be considered an indication of a lack of pollutants in a region, as this would harm the environment affecting lichens etc.
So apart from being pretty, this Spotted Lichen Moth suggests that the region I visited today was environmentally sound 🙂
Found this fren on calamansi lime. Thought it was a cabbage white but it was actually eating the lime leaves. INaturalist says it’s the above and articles say its host plant is Lobelia.
The Spanish Moon Moth is not only absolutely astonishing, it is basically a relic from the ice age. The conditions in the small areas of the Pyrenees where it is found have remained stable, unchanged, for a few million years, allowing the small remnant populations of this moth to survive in these small habitats virtually unchanged. Small populations of the species can now be found in France and Switzerland, but those are consequences of more recent human actions. At the caterpillar stage, it is quite a picky eater and primarily feeds on the needles of only two species of pine trees.
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Another recent #invertebrate print for #InverteFest: my #linocut hummingbird clearwing moth (Hermaris thysbe) seeking pollen from cherry blossoms! The olive-headed burgundy moth has transparent wings (though colour can be variable). It beats its wings rapidly to hover above flowers, like a hummingbird, meaning it is often confused with a hummingbird or bee.