Moths

photograph by Cassy Sheasby

Heady Maiden (Syntomis cerbera) with 4 red bands on its body.

Bauers Frother (Amerila bauri) 60mm wingspan, tan with clear windows in the wings. Black dots on thorax. Produce a foam ball if handled roughly.

These beautiful pearl-like eggs were laid on                       Duster (Pingasa abyssinaria) 45mm wingspan.
the trunk of a tree facing north.

Tri coloured Tiger Moth                                   African Hummingbird Moth (Macroglossum trochilus)
(Rhodogastria amasis) with a 60mm                   wingspan 40mm, feed during the day.
wingspan. They have bright red orange
and yellow colouring on the abdomen. 
Larvae is a large black catapillar with 
brown bristles called "woolly bear", 
often seen feeding on Bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides).

Sad Goat Moth (Cossus tristis) This one got wet and was vibrating to get the water off. Its larvae bore into tree trunks.

Cream striped Owl (Cyligramma latona) Large 75mm wingspan with beautiful eye markings on the top side.

Does anyone know what this catipillar changes into?

Silver striped Hawk Moth (Hippotion celerio)  The larvae feed on arum lilies, impatients and accacias. The 2 dots to the left of the tail are eggs just laid on an arum lily leaf.

Look what hatched out of the eggs and grew into this very large catapillar, after demolishing a stand of arum lilies.

                   photograph by Martin Reitz                                                                         photograph by Martin Reitz
A Cape Lappet moth caterpillar         This is an example of the caterpillar with host flies eggs
(Pachypasa capensis)                          on its back. The larvae hatch and feed on the caterpillar.

They are commonly found on Bitou bushes (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) in the winter and spring.

A Cape Lappet moth coccoon spun into Buffalo grass leaves. The Port Jackson tree leaves are 
also used. Found early November 2004 on Wildwood Island.

The moth emerging from the cocoon on 04/12/2004.

Moth emerged quicker than the camera button               It has large antenae.
could be released. Note the length of the wings
in relation to the body length.

The wings expanded in 1/2 hour.                    The wings are longer than the body after an hour
                                                                   and folded down in the resting position.