Synemon

Family: Castniidae: Synemon sp Most like Synemon nupta ID Ted Edwards CSIRO"Sun moths are an unusual group of day-flying moths that look and behave very much like butterflies.... Most sun-moths are similar in appearance with bright orange or red undersides. The upper-side of the hind wings is also orange or red, but when the wings are closed these are hidden by the dark brown or black fore-wings." Common Butterflies of the South-West - Bush Books series Andrew Williams, Robert Powell, Matthew Williams, Geoff Walker. Publisher Deptartment of Environment and Conservation 2009.They are so sensitive to the sunlight that if a cloud passes overhead, they will settle and stay until the sunlight returns or if they are disturbed. Adults will live only 4 to 10 days. The females mate and lay their eggs shortly after emerging from the pupae.The eggs are laid near the roots of native sedges - Lepidosperma and other species.

Few insects have been seen in the Northern Jarrah forest during the past twelve months. However these beautiful sun-moths made a timely appearance on the flowering Hakea ruscifolia shrubs.Photo: FredExplored: 11 Jan 2020 #24

One of the day flying colourful sun-moths. This is feeding from Hakea ruscifolia, a shrub that usually flowers during December and January. Photos: Jean and Fred

One of the day flying colourful sun-moths. This is feeding from Hakea ruscifolia, a shrub that usually flowers during December and January. Photos: Jean and Fred

One of the day flying colourful sun-moths. This is feeding from Hakea ruscifolia, a shrub that usually flowers during December and January. Photos: Jean and Fred

Family: CastniidaeSynemon directa A large showy species only seen in Dec/January. The larvae are said to feed on the roots of the big sword sedge (Lepidosperma gladiatum) and the moth is usually seen in areas where this occurs (often creeklines, but also coastal areas)Butterfly feeding on Hakea ruscifolia flowers.Base of rock off Old Bibbulmun track.

One of the day flying colourful sun-moths. This is feeding from Hakea ruscifolia, a shrub that usually flowers during December and January. Photos: Jean and Fred

One of the day flying colourful sun-moths. This is feeding from Hakea ruscifolia, a shrub that usually flowers during December and January. Photos: Jean and Fred

Synemon heliopisThese medium sized moths were flying yesterday and looked black as they flew. They have an iridescent blue colour on the scales on the ends of the wings.

Two years ago I photographed these moths mating . This year I photographed them laying eggs. They are a large sunmoth and look like a black butterfly as they fly.These moths were described by Westwood, J.O. in 1877 for the Linnean Society of London Zoology See: www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources...Most sunmoths are very similar with dappled grey on the upper side of the fore-wings with bright orange/red under wings. Photos: Jean

Family: CastniidaeSynemon spA shy sun moth which flies around in the daytime caught here drinking from a Pimelea.

Sun moth (Castniidae) Caterpillars feed on the roots of various types of grass and sedge. The moths are unusual as they fly during daylight hours, and have clubbed antennae like butterflies; there are about 24 Australian species (lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/cast/castniidae.html) Phylum: Arthropoda (arthropods, Gliederfer)Subphylum: Hexapoda BLAINVILLE, 1816Class: Insecta (insects, Insekten)Subclass: Pterygota (Fluginsekten)Infraclass: Neoptera MARTYNOV, 1923Order: Lepidoptera LINNAEUS, 1758 (butterflies & moths, Schmetterlinge)Suborder: GlossataInfraorder: HeteroneuraSuperfamily: Sesioidea BOISDUVAL, 1828 (relatives of Clearwing moths, Glasflglerartige)Family: Castniidae BOISDUVAL, 1828 (sun moth)Subfamily: Castniinae BOISDUVAL, 1828Genus: Synemon DOUBLEDAY, 1846[det. speech path girl, 2013, based on this photo]SW-Australia: Stirling Range, 12.11.2010IMG_7192

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia

Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia

Lepidoptera: Synemon catocaloides This is a photo I took in October 2004 on a trip through the Murchison (desert country). Not a butterfly but a sun moth.