Vine Moth on Diuris pardina - the "Leopard Orchid"

On Saturday I went back to Medway to get better images of the Diuris pardina (the Leopard Orchid) flowering over there (as promised).

Diuris pardina - the Leopard Orchid

The first thing I found was a large Day-flying Moth, a Grapevine Moth, (Phalaenoides glycinae) apparently feeding on one of the Orchid flowers. Given the size and position of the Moth, it was attempting to feed, not attempting pseudo-copulation with the Orchid.

Grapevine Moth attempting to feed on the Diuris flower

Here it is in close-up view.
Note how the flower bends over under the
unexpected weight of such a chunky Moth.

Grapevine Moth on Diuris pardina - cropped image

Wings of the Grapevine Moth

Head, legs and body of the Grapevine Moth

Front on view of  Diuris pardina (note the wide lateral lobes)

Side view of Diuris pardina

A different flower of Diuris pardina (note the pointed "lateral lobes")

Diuris pardina - note the fine dots of brown on the rear of the "ears"

Don Herbison-Evans' wonderful moths website has the following note about the Grapevine Moth (which is a pest species in Australia). He says: "The Indian Myna ( Acridotheres tristis ) was introduced into Australia in 1862 to deal with a number of insect pests including the Vine Moth. In this it was unsuccessful, and indeed the bird is now itself a considered a pest in many parts of Australia." 

DJW note: the "Indian Myna" is now known as "Common Myna".

We haven't learnt much about biological control agents, have we?

CSIRO is demonstrating a "blind spot" on this subject, claiming lots of success stories. Presumably they mean their own successes - not claiming success for Biological Pest Controls in general.

No mention of the Cane Toad, or the Indian Myna, or the Gambusia - the mis-named Mosquito Fish which do not eat Mosquito larvae, but which have become a pest of plaque proportions in Australia.