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Post by jamesd on Feb 11, 2012 1:49:20 GMT -8
Here you can see my incredibly large Saturniidae collection  The above specimen is already identified as Opodiphthera eucalypti. As for the specimen below, I am unsure as to whether it is just another colour variation of O. eucalypti, or if it is actually O. helena. (The specimen was caught on the VIC-N.S.W boarder, Australia, about one week ago). |
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Post by jamesd on Feb 11, 2012 2:05:14 GMT -8
Oops, the image didn't post for some reason. Well here it is. Attachments:
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Post by downundermoths on Feb 11, 2012 6:26:23 GMT -8
James, they are probably both male Opodiphthera eucalypti... I have found that eye spot size and base colouration varies a lot...
There is more chance of one being Opodiphthera helena if the bar on the lower wing actually touches the eye spot.
The only easy way to differentiate is at the larval stage. Those of eucalypti are generally green with isolated tufts (or scoli) which are red/orange with bluish tips and those of helena have a large yellowish lateral stripe and are covered in fine setae which give a slightly bristled appearance...
Barry
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Post by jamesd on Feb 11, 2012 15:38:55 GMT -8
Yes I already suspected they were both male. And yes, the below O. eucalypti does has eyespots almost twice the size. I noticed that eyespot size and colour was quite variable in O. eucalypti from the gallery at Australian moths online. www1.ala.org.au/gallery2/v/Saturniidae/Opodiphtheraeucalypti/Colour goes from white - brown - orange. Which is what made me doubt it was O. helena. Thanks Barry. |
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