Sphenarches anisodactylus
3 Geranium Plume Moth at Macarthur, ACT
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| Sphenarches anisodactylus | donhe | 6 May 2018 | |
| Sphenarches anisodactylus | RodDeb | 6 May 2018 |
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User's notes
gently brought inside to photograph then put back onto the Geranium where upon he flew up under the eaves and has been there for the past few hours.
7 comments
8 May 2018
You might like to examine the flower buds. Any with holes may have a larva inside or a pupa attached to the stalk.
9 May 2018
Hi,
have had a look at the Geranium today and there are quite a few single holes in multiple buds. The adult Moth is still hanging around in the Geranium.
We have been cutting the flowers off when they are spent. Should they be left on or is their pupae stage pretty quick. The spent flowers go in our compost not the bin. We certainly don't mind having these cute little moths around. It was good to see the moth still around there today, it even posed for more photos on the Geranium but don't have any room on this sighting for any more photos, but couldn't resist taking his cuteness "Battle moth" anyhow.
have had a look at the Geranium today and there are quite a few single holes in multiple buds. The adult Moth is still hanging around in the Geranium.
We have been cutting the flowers off when they are spent. Should they be left on or is their pupae stage pretty quick. The spent flowers go in our compost not the bin. We certainly don't mind having these cute little moths around. It was good to see the moth still around there today, it even posed for more photos on the Geranium but don't have any room on this sighting for any more photos, but couldn't resist taking his cuteness "Battle moth" anyhow.
10 May 2018
Yes: leave the dead flowers on.. If you carefully dissect the buds with holes: you should be able to find some larvae. I found the pupae attached to a stem just below the bud, as in the photo in
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/pter/anisodactylus.html
but maybe some pupate inside the eaten-out bud. I think the pupation period is about a week in summer, but maybe this late they may over-winter as a pupa. I would be interested to know what you can find.
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/pter/anisodactylus.html
but maybe some pupate inside the eaten-out bud. I think the pupation period is about a week in summer, but maybe this late they may over-winter as a pupa. I would be interested to know what you can find.
10 May 2018
Thanks, will leave the flowers on from now on.
Will keep you posted, thanks for your help.
regards, Deb and Rod
Will keep you posted, thanks for your help.
regards, Deb and Rod
Location information
- Coordinates 149.131148-35.408285
- Places Macarthur, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 6 May 2018 01:27 PM Recorded on
- RodDeb Recorded by
- Geranium plant in a pot with red flowers Associated plant
- 12mm to 25mm Animal size
Collections
- RodDeb Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Sphenarches anisodactylus Other moths Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects
Species information
- Sphenarches anisodactylus Scientific name
- Geranium Plume Moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Cosmopolitan
- Minor weed or pest
- Up to 669.8m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
6 / 7
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- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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- Additional attributes
- GPS evidence of location