100s surrounding a silver beech tree that I'd planted 4 years ago. Can't see them anywhere else in the garden and I haven't seen them before...
Sometimes there are 100s of these red balls on the beach. What are they?
Not a species I have seen before and I've been unable to find it on iNaturalist... 'Medium sized' longhorn (about 10mm).
On the beach, near the tide mark... Took it to higher ground.
micro-moth, inside the house
Some time ago I entered a record of the very common galls on the Olearia shrubs in the garden, especially on O. lineata. Usually the galls are old and have holes in them but today I opened one that was closed and.... this is the caterpillar living inside it.
Drawn to light. 10 degrees, humid, light winds.
Looks like Anisoplaca achyrota, but size of Scoparia halopis and different shape (e.g. not straight at terminal area). Will attach more photos later.
on washing in the garage, thought it was dead, but it wasn't
To finish off 2022... I think I may have found another site for Izatha psychra... Same catchment as the November record, but further up. (2.8 km straight line distance from the previous site Shaun and I found). @ 900 metres a.s.l. Must be a good population of them! Looks very much like the animal on the Wikipedia page. I have collected both of these individuals and have them safely stored at home. Will send up for examination if requested. Happy New Year! Nov record: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140856391
Unusual 'white' Gadira acerella. Not seen like that before.
After the first photo (which is also the final one), the next seven are in sequence. It only took a couple of minutes to go from photo 2 to the last one.
Very dark moth. It did not settle.
Something I haven't seen before... (?)
inside the house - unfamiliar looking moth
Hikaroroa/Mt Watkin Reserve. Moth survey with @possumsend. Night survey. Several UV lights used. Some on track above forest, some on edge of boulder field, some within forest. Warm, but very high winds. We did very well considering the weather.
Second time I have seen (and photographed) a marsh crake at Hawksbury Lagoon. This one was right 'below' the track, along the lagoon and in saltmarsh ribbonwood.
My eyesight has seen better times, especially close-up. I thought I spotted some mating wetas, but looking at the photos, it shows one that is "changing its skin". No doubt there is technical term for this in wetas.
Present for half an hour at light, but never settled...
Second time in 4 years that I have seen this creature; probably attached to the Meterana decorata moth
fast and brief; would not settle.
Drawn to light. 2 of 2. Good match for LCR images. The only other obs recorded on iNat by Brian Patrick made from same area. In the company of @Carey_Knox_Southern_Scales.
Here's a new species for me (?). Very lifely. Small, 5-6 mm long. Potato tuber moth?
Unsure about this one. I have over-exposed the second photo
?
About 10mm long
Very dark moth, sluggish in its movements, rather big (> any scopariinae present)
Unusual Orocrambus at light. Restless and a little bit "manic" in behaviour (see photos in flight).
Undescribed Eudonia species. I have seen this species once before, on 19.12.2019, also in Waikouaiti. See comments from @dr_robert below:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/38200643
This beautiful little plant has followed me from Masterton to Dunedin. I know it from a couple of Wairarapa sites and my original plant came from Tinui. I have dozens of plants self-sown in the gravel where my plant pots are and beyond. It also got "wild" in my former Macandrew Bay garden.
Some 'old' photos taken at Wilsons Rd saline area.
At least 30 plants. Flowering had just started. Growing in a weedy kettlehole (Carex leporina, Juncus effusus) - plants restricted to a small area of turf, with Galium perpusillum.
Flying mid morning in regen bush. 7 degrees. 1 of 2.
Drawn to light.
This moth had me as excited as any lizard ever has! 10 photos. Drawn to light. Now, I hope to locate some more local sites over the next month.
...just before landing on my head.... unpleasant!
Backyard at home. Drawn to light
Haven't seen this Genus yet in Waikouaiti. Had T. agrionata regularly in Macandrew Bay. This one doesn't look like that species.
Drawn to light.
On one of my Olearia hectorii...
Drawn to light. Several of these small (6mm forewing) moths have appeared on recent evenings.
While editing last night's (many) moth photos I came across this small moth in the corner, probably the small moth with the dark wing spot that flew briefly at the light but did not settle... Also found it on another photo... Not seen this species before!
Drawn to light. In the company of Carey_Knox_Southern_Scales.
Drawn to light. In the company of Carey_Knox_Southern_Scales.
A very distinctly patterned "white headed" black Tingena, not seen before.
I would have called this beautiful moth I. insignis but for the small size (15mm).