Giant moths western australia. Spend a lot of time in the bush and have never seen them before. This brief list is far from complete and additions are being made as we become aware of further sightings. Around half of these have been scientifically named. These were collected during their research for aw scotts two volume book australian lepidoptera and their transformations.
The two giant moths were probably used on the perth to carnarvon sector of the north west route. Other behaviours and adaptations life history cycle. The larvae are better known as witchetty grubs. Australia is certainly the place to be for moths though apparently we have something between 20000 and 30000 different types of moths here compared with just 2500 or so recorded species in the uk.
The australian museum has hundreds of moths and butterflies donated in the 1860s by alexander walker scott and his daughters helena and harriet. Australian moths online does not include images of all described species and deliberately excludes species that have not been described. Waas north west route ran as follows. Not by a long way.
The caterpillars of wood moths feed on plant roots but the adults do not feed during their short life span. Dh61 giant moth vh uqj operated in western australia for four years with west australian airways on the north west air mail route. Australian privet hawk moth talgai qld. About 23 rds the size of a white cabbage moth but the same vivid blue as the wrens we have in the garden at the moment.
There are two small black bordered white spots on each forewing. It has pattern of wavy lines parallel to the outer edge of the forewings and hindwings. Butterflies and moths of western australia. Give all people the chance to see some of australias rarely observed biodiversity treasures.
So you wont be surprised to hear that the rain moth is not australias biggest moth. The giant wood moth is the heaviest moth in the world with some females weighing up to 30 grams. See also the lists by larena woodmore mark heathand victor w fazio iii.