Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta

Blood-spotted Noctuid at Stromlo, ACT

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Identification history

Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta	6 Jun 2023	ibaird
Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta	6 Jun 2023	donhe
Unidentified	5 Jun 2023	HelenCross

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User's notes

A large number of these caterpillars on the grass stalks, including some dead ones

7 comments

donhe wrote:

6 Jun 2023

@HelenCross : did you take a couple into protective custody for rearing to the adult for a more certain identification ?

HelenCross wrote:

6 Jun 2023

I didn't @donhe but I can go back and get some

ibaird wrote:

6 Jun 2023

Certainly looks like this species based on the LBH photo and other online sources.

donhe wrote:

6 Jun 2023

@HelenCross : yes please. We know so few caterpillars, so there may be other species with caterpillars that have the same characters as those of P. sanguinipunctata, so rearing some to adults would dispel this ambiguity .

HelenCross wrote:

11 Jun 2023

Unfortunately when I went back I was only able to find 2 just alive specimens. I brought them back home and tried to rehydrate them but they have also died.

donhe wrote:

11 Jun 2023

@HelenCross : moths typically lay 200 eggs, and in a stable population : each year on average 2 will survive to procreate, so mortality is about 99%. Leaving a caterpillar in the wild is basically a death sentence.

HelenCross wrote:

11 Jun 2023

Wow!

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