Eudocima salaminia Moth Catocalinae Noctuidae
Published April 10, 2012 | “Adult moth has brown forewings with a dark green sheen, and with a sharply defined broad white border along the edges of the wings. The hindwings are orange, with a black border and black comma in the middle. The moth has a wingspan of about 8cm.” A new sighting for the Conservation Area with no common name.
I.D. and text reference courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley.
Further reference – http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/cato/salamin.html
Common Crow or Oleander Butterfly (Euploea core) Danainae Nymphalidae
Published April 5, 2012 | “The adults have a wingspan around 7cm. It is famous for its shiny metallic pupa and beautiful caterpillar with eight long black tentacles. It seems to be a species that prefers a tropical climate, but does breed in N.S.W. It has a lifespan of eleven to thirteen weeks.” A new species for the Conservation Area.
I.D. and text reference courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley.
Further reference -http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/nymp/core.html
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Systematics and Biodiversity
Published March 21, 2012 | The peer-reviewed quarterly journal Systematics and Biodiversity recently published the report – Perspectives. Colour and size variation in Junonia villida ( Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae ) : subspecies or phenotypic plasticity ? by R.I. Vane-Wright and W. John Tennant.
The review was based on” examination of c.1500 museum specimens from its entire geographical range from the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to the Gambiers in mid-Pacific, spanning over 154 degrees of longitude, or 43% of the circumference of the Earth. Mostly found in open grasslands or disturbed areas, including woodlands and disturbed forests from sea-level up to 1500m or more in elevation, it is variable in wing colour pattern on both upper and lower surfaces. The causes of this variability are uncertain, but temperature, photoperiod, rainfall, migration and perhaps underlying geographical differentiation may all play a role.”
The Clarence Valley Meadow Argus butterfly is represented by the image on lower right side taken on the Conservation Area for the cover illustration showing six Australian butterfly with various differences in colour pattern.
Further reference available; http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tsab20/current
Authorization 
and Publisher: Taylor & Francis U.K.
Parepisparis virgatus Moth (Oenochrominae)
Published December 1, 2011 |
Found on Red Ironbark (Euc. fibrosa) in the Conservation Area. Distributed across New South Wales and Victoria. Described in 1990 by Scoble and Edwards. A new sighting with no common name.
I.D. courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans.
Further reference; http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/chro/virgatus.html
What is the Difference between Moths and Butterflies?
Although the rules for distinguishing between moths and butterflies are not hard and fast, one very good guiding principle is that butterflies have thin antennae and (with one exception) have small balls or clubs at the end of each antennae. Moth antennae can be quite varied in appearance, but in particular lack the club end. The divisions are named by this principle “club antennae” (Rhopalocera) or “varied antennae” (Heterocera).
Opsirhina alphaea Moth Lasiocampinae LASIOCAMPIDAE
Published August 22, 2011 | 
“The adult moths are stout and brown with a white spot in the middle of each forewing. The female is larger than the male at 3.5cm. Eggs are laid in a jumbled mass on a twig”. ( No common name ).
I.D. and reference courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley.
Further reference – http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/lasi/alphaea.html
Orange Cup Moth (Pseudanapaea transvestita) LIMACODIDAE
Published August 22, 2011 | ” This moth occurs over much of Australia. The adult moth has freckly brown forewings each with three orange and two white spots near the middle. The hindwings and abdomen are brown and the thorax is off-white and hairy”. The caterpillars are extraordinarily camoflaged in the shape of their host tree the eucalypt gum species. First described by Hering in 1931. Click hyperlink below for amazing caterpillar images.
I.D. and reference courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley.
Further reference – http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/lima/transvestita.html
Gastrophora henricaria Moth Oenochrominae – Geometridae
Published August 4, 2011 | “Adult moths have fawn forewings with a dark brown line across each one and have a dark brown dot near the base of the inner margin. The hindwings are orange with a submarginal arc of dark brown dots, a dark brown patch at the base and a dark brown line across each wing. Underneath each forewing has a purple blotch.” The caterpillars are looper type and are known to feed on Gum trees. A new find on the Conservation Area. Found in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. (No Common Name)
I.D. and reference courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley.
Further reference; http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/chro/henric.html 
Pantydia metaspila Moth (Catocalinae, Noctuidae)
Published July 4, 2011 | With a wingspan of around 3cm this brown moth Pantydia metaspila ( no common name) is found in Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Taiwan, Queensland and now northern New South Wales. “Adult moths are brown, with a thin submarginal line accompanied by some black spots on each forewing.” It also displayed a similar profile to a Wolf Spider.
I.D. courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans
Reference courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley.
Further reading http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/cato/metaspila.html
Circopetes obtusata Moth – Geometridae
Published June 20, 2011 | 
Circopetes obtusata moth with no common name is found across most states of Australia. The abdomen of the moth is often held twisted to one side. This makes the moth less obvious to predators.The caterpillar is a looper-type.
I.D. courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans.
Further reference - http:lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/chro/obtusat.html
Hypodoxa muscosaria Moth (Geometrinae, Geometridae)
Published May 10, 2011 | 
“The adult moths of this species are varied in their colours, from an earthy grey to rich deep green, with a complex pattern of zigzag lines. The underside is pale brown, with a broad dark marginal band and a dark central spot on each wing”. With a wingspan of 45mm and body length of 25mm the green colours fade rapidly when the moth dies. With no common name, a new find on the wildlife refuge.
I.D. courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans.
Reference courtesy of Don Herbison-Evans, Donna Crossley and Peter Marriott.
http://australian-insects.com/lepidoptera/geom/muscosaria.html