A Hawk moth at Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
Identification history
| Cephonodes (genus) | 22 Mar 2025 | ibaird | ||
| Cephonodes cunninghami | 22 Mar 2025 | donhe | ||
| Cephonodes hylas (Pellucid Hawk Moth) | 21 Mar 2025 | DiBickers | ||
| Sphingidae | 21 Mar 2025 | DiBickers | ||
| Unidentified | 14 Feb 2024 | TimL |
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User's notes
Very large, loud and fast moving and didn't remain in the area for long. Thanks to Barbara for the initial sighting.
13 comments
ibaird
wrote:
21 Mar 2025
If tthe first two images are of a clear wing moth species, Sessidae family, then the third image is likely Cephonodes australis or another Cephanodes specides. a Sphingiidae family (Hawk moth) species.
Could you separate the first two images form the third image and submit them separately please?
Could you separate the first two images form the third image and submit them separately please?
DiBickers
wrote:
21 Mar 2025
@ibaird I’m pretty sure these are all the same moth & likely Cephonodes hylas (Pellucid Hawk Moth). If you zoom in you can see the first two photos it has its abdomen lengthened to lay eggs😊
donhe
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
C. cunninghami (ex picus) has a diagnostic thorn-like projection on the foreleg tibial apex, which I think is just visible on the left foreleg in the first photo. Ref. ilustration 77, p. 77. Hawkmoths of Australia (Moulds et al).
TimL
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
These three images are all the same moth, as witnessed by two of us at the time. If it helps at all, I have higher definition versions of these three low-definition images which might allow you to zoom in and get better detail. If so, let me know and I'll get them to you. Tim
donhe
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
A cropped high definition image showing the left foreleg in the first photo would be good to add to this sighting.
DiBickers
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
TimL
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
I'll add another sighting later today with the higher definition versions of the three images plus the crop of the left foreleg as requested, and I'll link the sighting back to this one. Hope this helps. And thanks to you all for your interest and expertise. Tim
TimL
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
I've reworked the original images and uploaded them at higher definition and contrast under sighting 4655121. Hope this helps. Tim
DiBickers
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
ibaird
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
OK. thanks TimL. I agree then, it's likely a Cephonodes (genus) species. but determining which one may be a challenge.
ibaird
wrote:
22 Mar 2025
Looking at Figures 71 and 72 on page 74 of ' Hawkmoths of Australia' Moulds et al. (CSIRO, Melbourne) which compares the spurs on the forelegs of C. australis and C. cunninghami. I'm not sure I can personally plump for one species over the other based on the first image (enhanced or otherwise). Although I think if I had to choose I'd go for C. australis given I'm not sure I can see a second spur on the foreleg which corresponds with C. cunninghami. I'll defer to donhe on this one!
Location information
- Coordinates 153.029925-27.474482
- Altitude 14.1m
- Maps Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
- Places Brisbane City, QLD
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 2 Feb 2024 12:17 PM Recorded on
- TimL Recorded by
-
Collections
TimL NatureMapr Greater Brisbane Hawk moths (Sphingidae) Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects
Additional information
- 25mm to 50mm Animal size
- Alive / healthy Animal health
Species information
- Sphingidae Scientific name
- A Hawk moth Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 97.78m Recorded at altitude
- Machine learning
- External link More information
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
