Pyralid Snout Moth Caterpillar

Some species of pyralid snout moth caterpillar, though I could not discern the species. I found on Yuelu Mountain last July and I should have noted more carefully the plant it was on.

Little Emerald

Little Emerald (Jodis lactearia, 青突尾尺蛾).

A common species across Europe and Asia An inept little flyer, spotted on Yuelu Mountain last July.

Ourapteryx Yerburii

Ourapteryx yerburii (淡黄双斑尾尺蛾).

A medium-sized geometer moth. There were many of them out during our nocturnal searches on Hengshan last October 28th.

Auzata Semipavonaria

Auzata semipavonaria (半豆斑钩蛾).

A rare moth, discovered during a night-time search for nocturnal insects at Hengshan. We mostly encountered common species, so this was a highlight of the evening.

A Magpie Moth From Hengshan

Magpie Moth (Complex Abraxas Amicula-illuminata, 金星尺蛾属).

Still one of the most fascinating local moths. This individual was a lighter grey and a different pattern than I have seen before.

Disclisioprocta

Disclisioprocta ssp.? (圆尺蛾属).

Probably an invasive carpet moth from Africa: these two were preparing the next generation in a park in Xiamen on August 21. The genus has been observed across the southern Chinese coast and Taiwan, but the exact species has not yet been determined.

Unknown Scoopwing Moth

Over the next year, I hope to make a better acquaintance with the multitudes of moths which dwell all over southern China. Perhaps next year, I will be better able to identify this attractive individual I observed by the river last July.

Corymica Arnearia

Corymica arnearia (毛穿孔尺蛾).

Though I have never discovered the their larvae in wild, they feed on cinnamomum camphora, which is abundant in local forests. I am sure to spot, however, two or three adult moths every year.

Metoeca Foedalis

Metoeca foedalis (污斑纹野螟).

Through a lot of trial and error I am trying to improve my skills at photographing very small subjects. One early result is this common pearl moth: it ranges across Africa, southern Asia, Australia and has been introduced to South America, though this one here was ranging no farther than around a cluster of shrubs in urban Changsha.

Saturnia Pyretorum Pupa

Saturnia pyretorum (樟蚕). Pupa.

A large silk-moth chrysalis: floating in the breeze on a branch of a willow tree in Wangling Park. I often see the caterpillars crawling about on the ground in the forests, but I rarely see the pupae or adult moths: no doubt I am out in the wrong places and at the wrong times.

Chinese Moon Moth Pupa and Caterpillar

Chinese Moon Moth (Actias ningpoana, 绿尾天蚕蛾). Pupa and Caterpillar.

I found them in a ditch on Yuelu Mountain and attempted to rescue them. Sadly their were too dried out before I had retrieved them: the bitter fortunes of small creatures.

Arctornis Cygna

Arctornis cygna (小点白毒蛾).

A lace-white tussock moth with bright orange fee, that can be found across south-east Asia. Albeit this is the only one I have seen on Yuelu Mountain: resting in a conspicuous spot by the roots of a tree.

Krananda Latimarginaria

Krananda latimarginaria (三角璃尺蛾).

A member of the Geometridae family, these moths are very common in the summer and I have observed them resting during the day, especially on various species of ferns. One can look for them wherever there are camphor trees (or perhaps other species of cinnamomum) nearby.

Psychostrophia Nymphidiaria

Psychostrophia nymphidiaria (黑边白蛱蛾).

An attractive medium-sized moth that is only found in south western China: I came across two in the Huxingshan Yao Ethnic Township, one was perched on a mound of dirt on the side of the road; the other was resting on a leaf.

Pterodecta Felderi

Pterodecta felderi (锚纹蛾).

Another moth, spotted in the morning in Huxingshan Yao Ethnic Township. I could have probably enjoyed the whole summer there finding new species every day. Hopefully it will not be long before I am back in west Hunan.

 

Epicopeia Hainesii

Epicopeia hainesii (浅翅凤蛾).

I see many swallowtail butterflies in the summer, but a swallowtail moth is a first for me. It was conspicuously resting on a wall near a rest stop in Longhui County, which we stopped at on the way to Huxingshan for a few fleeting minutes.

Euhampsonia Cristata

Euhampsonia cristata (黄二星舟蛾).

It will take some time to sort my photos of nature in Huxingshan Yao Ethnic Township (虎形山瑶族乡). But my first picture is the last creature I photographed, a medium-sized moth that was lingering in the morning in the local village school before my departure.

Lamprosema Tampiusalis

Lamprosema tampiusalis (黄环蚀叶野螟).

A fairly common moth on Yuelu Mountain: resting in the afternoon by one of the remaining woodland streams, I saw many of them fluttering about or perching on the moist rocks.

Problepsis Albidior

Problepsis albidior (白眼尺蛾).

I spotted this geometer moth, resting in plain view, during an evening walk in Wangling Park. The last time I noticed one was May of last year, its orange and silver spots are memorable.

Scopula Propinquaria

Scopula propinquaria (花边灰姬尺蛾).

The past week has been mostly rain and it looks like there will be nothing but more rain for the near future. And in this humidity it is difficult to keep the fog away from my camera lens. Today I walked around Wangling Park: I did not see much for my effort and could photograph less, but I did at least manage to capture this member of the geometridae family.