dr_robert's Favorites

I'm aware of @dr_robert 's comment in this observation https://inaturalist.nz/observations/38662394 that it's only known with certainty from the Tararua Range, but it matches the Landcare photo better than any other option: https://oldwww.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/image/0007/98323/Scoparia_lynchnophanes.jpg.

I also stared a lot at Scoparia encopna, but this has too many white scales and that has no evidence of the orange lines in the terminal area.

Straight from camera upload, will add more later. Kinda amazing.

I note @Jacobl 's comments about rainy weather (https://inaturalist.nz/observations/145884180) - this was on an amazing warm humid night, followed by torrential rain starting a few hours later (and there's a red warning for 600-800mm rain coming shortly!)

@dr_robert @nhudson

I couldn't resist posting this one today before I head off again for a bit. My first encounter with Streaked Alpine Owlet (Nivetica nervosa). A stunning noctuid moth endemic to Te Waipounamu / South Island, Aotearoa. Found in wetland habitats in the subalpine and alpine zone of the South Island. This one (and two others) recorded early on the evening of the 29th November in the Southern Hawkdun Range, Oteake Conservation Park at about 800 metres a.s.l. Cloudy, mild, low wind. Great conditions

X marks the spot! The highlight of the night was seeing this beautiful moth arrive 2.5 hours after the lights were turned on (lights on at 6 pm, moth arrived at about 8:30 pm). I didn't know they would be at this site and wasn't expecting them to be out at this time of year either. There must be some Streblus heterophyllus in the bush. Several photos of the moth and a few of my setup and the view at the end. Great spot! Yay!!! That is Meterana species number 22 for me (incl. the undescribed 'Urtica' one).

Up to the North Island for work and a holiday / herp trip. My first time mothing in the North Island! I would have loved to have more time, it be summer, and have weather that was less wild, rainy, and windy! Nonetheless, I did what I could in between lizards, frogs, wind, and rain and got a few nice North Island only species.

Pattern matches very well! I ruled out Hydriomena based on pectinations and the pattern doesn't match with Austrocidaria cedrinodes. Discovered at Eweburn Stream, Ida Range which is not too far from here. Also @butterfly4 has records from further downstream along the Manuherikia River.

Mothing adventure with kids in tow. East Branch Manuherikia River about 860 metres a.s.l. Olearia bullata, Olearia odorata, and mixed sub-alpine shrubland, wetland, and tussock grassland.

Another night of Fiordland moths. One more to go after this. I did a lot of mothing there this January whilst in the area working on Awakopaka skink, but I won't be back to Fiordland until March. It will be interesting to see the change in species composition between January and March.

Another night of Fiordland moths. One more to go after this. I did a lot of mothing there this January whilst in the area working on Awakopaka skink, but I won't be back to Fiordland until March. It will be interesting to see the change in species composition between January and March.

now what the heck is this...First thought was elachista, eg these guys: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/66820942 but this was a bit bigger and obviously the pattern is different. @dr_robert @nhudson

A couple of House Sparrows used our deck as a dining table for dismantling & eating Cicadas. Maybe an hours worth of feeding resulting in a pile of wings of which this is a small sample. I'm surprised the Sparrows could fly off at the end.

Floral arrangement by me - not the Sparrows

To finish off 2022... I think I may have found another site for Izatha psychra... Same catchment as the November record, but further up. (2.8 km straight line distance from the previous site Shaun and I found). @ 900 metres a.s.l. Must be a good population of them! Looks very much like the animal on the Wikipedia page. I have collected both of these individuals and have them safely stored at home. Will send up for examination if requested. Happy New Year! Nov record: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140856391

Good night of mothing with @possums_end on top of Dickson's Hill. Usually a very windy spot, it was very calm and mild. Delighted with 10 new species for me in this upload (barring any incorrect IDs): Coleophora mayrella, Epichorista hemionana, Epiphryne verriculata (finally!!! ha ha), Glyphipterix triselena, Gymnobathra omphalota, Heterocrossa contactella, Pseudocoremia lupinata, Pseudocoremia pergrata, Pyrgotis eudorana, and the stinging nettle undescribed Meterana sp.

Maybe?... Here are the moths recorded during our survey for the 'Threatened-Nationally Critical' Kahurangi skink (Oligosoma kahurangi). Day flying plus one night. The weather only allowed for one night of mothing (strong winds and rain on the other nights). Nonetheless, some very interesting moths and I wish I could have undertaken another night or two.

I think this moth is in the I. cana group, but I. cana is not known from this far north. I tossed up between I. eris and I. fibriata. I went with I. fibriata eventually based on the orbicular and reniform stigma being partially edged in black (versus not edged in black in I. eris - using the Noctuinae part 2 guide). I hope I got this correct, but I could be barking up the wrong tree (or even in the wrong forest!). Here are the moths recorded during our survey for the 'Threatened-Nationally Critical' Kahurangi skink (Oligosoma kahurangi). Day flying plus one night. The weather only allowed for one night of mothing (strong winds and rain on the other nights). Nonetheless, some very interesting moths and I wish I could have undertaken another night or two.