Uresiphita ornithopteralis

1 Tree Lucerne Moth at Macarthur, ACT

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Identification history

Uresiphita ornithopteralis	26 Jan 2021	ibaird
Pyraloidea immature unidentified	6 Jan 2021	ibaird
Pyraloidea immature unidentified	6 Jan 2021	donhe
Uresiphita ornithopteralis	6 Jan 2021	RodDeb
Unidentified	5 Jan 2021	RodDeb

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User's notes

lant is Genista monspessulana Cape Broom, Montpellier Broom (have been informed it is Noxious or High Risk Weed so will remove it after the caterpillars are finished. We purchased the plant in a container with no name from a well-known hard-ware store.)

9 comments

donhe wrote:

6 Jan 2021

U. ornithopteralis normally has a black head, not rusty brown. I think this is a related species.
On what species of plant was it feeding?
I think you will have to rear this to the adult moth to determine the species.

RodDeb wrote:

6 Jan 2021

unfortunately it was a cheap unnamed plant bought in a margarine container for a small pot which it outgrew so got moved up the back, didn't think it would survive but it has, so don't know the name of it. When searching for the ID I see red heads on U. ornithopteralis (on iNaturalist etc.).
The pics were taken with a flash so it has probably made the colours pop more. However will leave it up to your expertise as we certainly don't know much about moths and caterpillars.
Thank you for your help.

donhe wrote:

6 Jan 2021

Can you photograph the plant and put the photos on CNM for a plant person to identify?
And can you take the caterpillar into captivity?

RodDeb wrote:

6 Jan 2021

okay will photograph the plant. Not sure about taking the caterpillar in, don't want to kill them. Don't know enough about doing that.

donhe wrote:

6 Jan 2021

Just common sense. There are some hints at
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/faqs/care.html

RodDeb wrote:

6 Jan 2021

Okay have taken a few caterpillars and they are now in a large glass vase (all we had) with dirt etc and some of the plant they were on. Found another loop caterpillar which may be different. So now will wait and see how things go.

donhe wrote:

7 Jan 2021

Excellent. I look forward to seeing a moth. Hope you have the looper in a separate container.
I personally have found that confusion is easy.

RodDeb wrote:

7 Jan 2021

No didn't do that as we could only find one large glass vase after hunting around. Will have to find where to buy some large glass jars from as most things are plastic now. Preserve jars should do. Will work it out, thanks for your help. Will get a pic of the plant on ASAP took too many pics yesterday while we were out and about and it takes me awhile to do them all. Thanks for your patience.

RodDeb wrote:

26 Jan 2021

update of hatching please see: Uresiphita ornithopteralis (TBC)
caterpillar inside on 5th jan 2021, cocoon 7th jan, hatched 26th jan 2021.
photographed uresiphita ornithopteralis tree lucerne moth and set free.
sighting 4368844

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