Throughout the period just before the onset of wet season large numbers of Hawk Moths (and other insects) are attracted to the security lights around my house on Matirogo Point, Port Moresby (National Capital District). During the day these Hawk Moths "roost" in nearby trees, usually under a leaf, or in shaded nooks on the outside of the house. In the third week of December 1990 (16-21/12/90) and again during 16-19 January 1991, when conditions were hot, humid and calm, numerous Hawk Moths were noted around the house. Both these periods preceded some heavy rains. Five species have been identified using Mackey (1975). The most numerous species was Daphnis dohertyi (Rost), possibly outnumbering the other species by 10:1. Also recorded were some D. hypothous (Cr.), D. protrudens (Felder) and singles of Thereta clotho (Dry) and Chromis erotus (Cr.). Other unidentified species of moth and other insects were also seen on the walls of the house. This abundance of prey was exploited by several species of birds.
A family of Torresian Crows Corvus orru, two adults and two fledged young, visited the roof of the house each morning between 05:30 and 07:30. The young were readily identified by their dark eyes and pinkish gape. I assume all the birds were feeding on insects that had been attracted to the security lights but the prey was only identified on three occasions. Each of these times a young bird was noted holding a Hawk Moth in its bill. The young bird transferred the Hawk Moth from its bill to its feet where it was held against the bird's perch while the Hawk Moths wings were stripped and discarded before the body was eaten. On one occasion the Hawk Moth escaped while the young Torresian Crow was transferring it from bill to foot.
Two Pheasant Coucals Centropus phasianinus, not usually recorded in the garden, were observed in trees near the house where the Hawk Moths "roosted", but I could not confirm they were feeding on the moths. They were noted on the ground beneath the security lights where they fed on Hawk Moths that had come to grief during the night.
Up to four White-breasted Wood-Swallows Artamus leucorhynchus snatched moths from trees near the house. The wood-swallows picked the moths, and other insects, from the foliage with their feet as they flew past. Their prey was then manipulated and passed from feet to bill while in flight. Some of the moths taken in this way may have been Hawk Moths, but I cannot be certain and most seemed too small.
One Fawn-breasted Bowerbird Chlamydera cerviniventris was seen carrying a Hawk Moth (possibly D. dohertyi) into a tree near the house on 18 January 1991.
A dragon Lophognathus temporalis was also noted feeding on damaged Hawk Moths on the ground.
Mackey, A.P. 1975. Hawk Moths of Port Moresby. Occasional Paper No. 4. Biology Dept, UPNG.
A family of Torresian Crows Corvus orru, two adults and two fledged young, visited the roof of the house each morning between 05:30 and 07:30. The young were readily identified by their dark eyes and pinkish gape. I assume all the birds were feeding on insects that had been attracted to the security lights but the prey was only identified on three occasions. Each of these times a young bird was noted holding a Hawk Moth in its bill. The young bird transferred the Hawk Moth from its bill to its feet where it was held against the bird's perch while the Hawk Moths wings were stripped and discarded before the body was eaten. On one occasion the Hawk Moth escaped while the young Torresian Crow was transferring it from bill to foot.
Two Pheasant Coucals Centropus phasianinus, not usually recorded in the garden, were observed in trees near the house where the Hawk Moths "roosted", but I could not confirm they were feeding on the moths. They were noted on the ground beneath the security lights where they fed on Hawk Moths that had come to grief during the night.
Up to four White-breasted Wood-Swallows Artamus leucorhynchus snatched moths from trees near the house. The wood-swallows picked the moths, and other insects, from the foliage with their feet as they flew past. Their prey was then manipulated and passed from feet to bill while in flight. Some of the moths taken in this way may have been Hawk Moths, but I cannot be certain and most seemed too small.
One Fawn-breasted Bowerbird Chlamydera cerviniventris was seen carrying a Hawk Moth (possibly D. dohertyi) into a tree near the house on 18 January 1991.
A dragon Lophognathus temporalis was also noted feeding on damaged Hawk Moths on the ground.
Mackey, A.P. 1975. Hawk Moths of Port Moresby. Occasional Paper No. 4. Biology Dept, UPNG.
