Here at #56 we don’t seem to see as many moths as we used to. Do other folk have the same experience? With that background, it was a great pleasure to be visited for the first time by Milionia queenslandica, a medium-sized (approx 55mm) spectacular moth of the Family Geometridae; Subfamily Ennominae.
This group of day-flying moths is also found in New Guinea, but the Australian subspecies are not as strongly day-flying as their PNG cousins. The larvae feed on conifers. They are confined to rainforest and may be found from Cooktown to Mackay. Ours came to light at night and flew fast and furious in tight circles, giving flashes of the vivid colours before finally settling.
Look forward to another visit from this charmer….Description from A Guide to Australian Moths by Zborowski and Edwards).
Text and photo by Peter Cooke