Mating Sun moths

Description:

Family: Castniidae: Synemon sp Most like Synemon nupta ID Ted Edwards CSIRO"Sun moths are an unusual group of day-flying moths that look and behave very much like butterflies.... Most sun-moths are similar in appearance with bright orange or red undersides. The upper-side of the hind wings is also orange or red, but when the wings are closed these are hidden by the dark brown or black fore-wings." Common Butterflies of the South-West - Bush Books series Andrew Williams, Robert Powell, Matthew Williams, Geoff Walker. Publisher Deptartment of Environment and Conservation 2009.They are so sensitive to the sunlight that if a cloud passes overhead, they will settle and stay until the sunlight returns or if they are disturbed. Adults will live only 4 to 10 days. The females mate and lay their eggs shortly after emerging from the pupae.The eggs are laid near the roots of native sedges - Lepidosperma and other species.