Jaw breaker

Walkers in the local bush from Fryers Ridge to Porcupine Ridge and up to Castlemaine have recently been noticing a beautiful small moth hovering around spring flowers. Its very challenging name is Pollanisus viridipulverulenta–apparently we can blame the name on the nineteenth century French entomologist Felix Edward Guerin-Meneville. It’s common name is Satin Green Forester.

It’s a day flying moth whose larvae feed on various species of Hibbertia.  It’s reasonably common throughout eastern and south western Australia, and this year seems to be a good one for the species. [Our thanks to Tony Morton for identifying this beautiful creature].