The beauty of this fruit-piercing noctuid moth (
Othreis iridescens) did not become wholly apparent until I saw it in full light. This is a Far North Queensland endemic, which, although it feeds on fruit, is not considered to be a pest. (And even if it were, you'd cut it some slack, wouldn't you?)
The vines
Pycnarrhena novoguineensis and
Hypserpa laurina (both Menispermaceae) are known as host plants.
(This is a live individual, but it was having an off day, by the look of things.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0k-GSEimTT6LW3FZTO3EgSuz-LRNIXLl8QcyqH-vbGeKTT0u0LPjBNWu7WPdiWNvY-VhzWwPFMHyX_oWMCumoEtZgc9aeQWzQUXGfW8kTNw1E1MX3GxJ7aorL7U3Qh6dnLwg/s320/Othreis-iridescens-1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05VWUSbkFcRlqZVsX6Aa2z28hZpPJYC0HaJu1-L3f_qJ1wpawuV6HXVCSg5b6Fb26OZPp1r9Wj1VUnBMcn9xU5dku4Mz2IfXYBRSwwuiW0g886ih0ZW3O84v8BClvBlWyikF/s320/Othreis-iridescens-2.jpg)