2012 Koh Samui Moths

Notodontidae, Pygaerinae - Wingspan: 25mm. A single specimen came to our trap during our stay. My thanks to Ryan for coming up with this ID. It has been difficult to verify it, as there doesn't appear to be any images on the web (that I've found), and the only short description available is for a species which seems to have been revised a number of times. N.B. The illustration here has a small amount of the fore-wing detail obliterated due to light reflection when photographed. The orange-brown of the fore-wing continues, whilst merging with darker shading, along the anterior edge to the wing root. Presumably, this is a fairly dark version of this species.

Crambidae? - Wingspan: 14mm. A common little Pyralid in this area. Numbers recorded were: 5th(1), 7th(4), 9th(2), 10th(2).

Uraniidae - Wingspan: 34mm. A single specimen cam to the trap on 5th September.

Geometridae, Sterrhinae - Wingspan: 20mm. Three individuals came to the trap, 5th(1), 9th(2). My thanks to Ryan below for finding the identity of this species.

Psychidae - Wingspan: 48mm. A single specimen came to our trap on the 5th September. There seems to be a puzzle here, as there is a very similar species, Oiketicus kirbyi Guilding,1827 in the Neotropical region. I can't see much difference between them so wonder if this is an example of the same species being described in different regions around the world?

Geometridae - Wingspan: 28mm. Yet Unidentified, three specimens came to the trap; 5th(1), 9th(1), 10th(1).

Crambidae - Wingspan: 30mm. A single specimen of this pretty Pyralid came to the trap on 5th September.

Crambidae, Spilomelinae - Wingspan: 40mm. A single specimen of this large Pyralid was found on the wall near the light trap on the 5th September.

Noctuidae - Wingspan: 44mm. Four specimen of this quite large moth came to our trap; 5th(1), 9th(3). My thanks to Ryan for finding this identification.

Sphingidae Macroglossinae. Wingspan: 52mm. This moth, together with a number of others were seen feeding around a bed of Lantana australis outside our friend, Madeline's chalet at dawn and dusk. However, they were always fast moving and very difficult to get near. One morning, Madeline called in with one that she had managed to capture using a large plastic jar alone, a triumph of patience.

Erebidae (Noctuidae), Calpinae - Wingspan: 110mm. A specimen of this pretty moth came to our trap on the 7th September.

Erebidae (Noctuidae), Calpinae - Wingspan: 110mm. A specimen of this pretty moth came to our trap on the 7th September.

Erebidae (Noctuidae), Aganainae - Wingspan: 54mm. A single specimen came to our trap on 7th September.

Erebidae (Noctuidae), Aganainae - Wingspan: 54mm. A single specimen came to our trap on 7th September.

Geometridae - Wingspan: 40mm. A single specimen came to our trap on the 7th September.

Noctuidae, Eriopinae - Wingspan: 30mm. Two specimens came to our trap, one on the 7th September, and the other on the 10th September.

Erebidae (Lymantriidae), Lymantriinae - Wingspan: 19mm. A single specimen came in to our trap on the 7th September. I have re-named this picture as the original one appears to have been wrong. This sub-family is very uncertain, with no clear agreement in identifications. Although it may be wrong, one of the BoldSystems suggestions is the above name. That species seems to be widespread along the north of Australia, so could possibly have spread north-westward along the Indonesian chain of islands into the Malay Peninsula.

Geometridae, Desmobathrinae - Wingspan: 15mm. A single tiny specimen came to our trap on the 7th September. My thanks to Ryan for pointing to the genus. Searching the BoldSystems database suggests that the species is as shown above.