Venatrix sp. (perhaps V. pseudospeciosa) - male
Family: Lycosidae

Ventatrix sp. (perhaps V. australiensis) - a female. Actively hunting moths and other spiders attracted to the window lights.
Family: Lycosidae

Isopeda prolata … one of our largest spiders and a regular inhabitant of the window shutter housings.
Family: Sparassidae

Holconia insignis … the very first of this species that we’ve ever seen here. That now makes 5 huntsman species for the home list!
Family: Sparassidae

Mituliodon tarantulinus … not actually a tarantula, which are mygalomorphs. Common names can be misleading. This species belongs to the family Miturgidae, ‘Prowling Spiders’.

Hemicloea sp. Extremely flat, extremely fast.
Family: Trochanteriidae (previously considered to be Gnaphosidae)

Eriophora transmarina. She hides away by day, rebuilding her web in the same place each night.

Unsure of the species identity but this is definitely a male trapdoor. They wander in search of females, whereas the females always remain in their burrows. Not sure why it’s climbing the walls though.
Family: Idiopidae

Cercophonius squama. Another insect hunter, although these scorpions often fall prey to the White Porch Spiders (Cryptachaea gigantipes) adorning the eaves.

Cormocephalus esulcatus. Here on the ground, but moments before it was hunting insects on the walls.

Family Cambalidae (I think). Not hunting, simply exploring. Most millipedes are detritivores and play an important role in breaking down leaf litter.
Superorder Juliformia

Platydemus victoriae. This species was first described from an 1891 collection made by Baldwin Spencer in nearby Croajingalong NP. It seems this particular subspecies is rarely recorded – there are few photographs online. A hunter of earthworms, slugs and the like.

Exaireta spinigera. True to name, this species loves the enriched soil and compost of the vegetable garden. This is a male (females are wingless).
Family: Stratiomyidae

Netelia sp.

Chrysolarentia mecynata

This moth often behaves like a butterfly, holding its wings vertically.

Thallogama sp.

Family: Geometridae

Chrysolarentia severata

Dichromodes mesogonia

Family: Geometridae

Ectropis excursaria

Common names can be very confusing. This and many other moths in the family Geometridae have common names that reflect the looping movements of their caterpillars. The adult moths don’t ‘loop’ at all!

Subfamily: Olethreutinae

This group of moths is notoriously difficult to identify below subfamily level.

Epyaxa subidaria

This species comes in a wide range of colours and patterns, several of which we’ve seen over the last week or so. Compare this one to the other Subidaria Moth on this gallery. Makes them tricky to identify!

Family: Geometridae

Phrissogonus laticostata

Scopula optivata

Simplicia armatalis

Family: Erebidae

Hoplostega ochroma

Family: Oecophoridae

Limnaecia cirrhosema

Family: Cosmopterigidae

Prasinocyma semicrocea

Cernia amyclaria

Family: Geometridae

Didymoctenia exsuperata

Family: Geometridae

Crypsiphona ocultaria

Family: Geometridae

Rhitzala modesta

Scoparia exhibitalis

Iropoca rotundata

You can see where this group of moths get their other common name - Woolly Bear Moths

Subfamily: Lymantriinae

Epyaxa subidaria

Laspeyria concavata

Family: Erebidae

Dybatus stenodesma

Family: Geometridae

Meranda susialis

Cyneoterpna wilsoni

Subfamily: Geometrinae

Gastrinodes bitaeniaria

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Chironominae

This male is showing off his extravagant antennae. His green abdomen is pretty out there as well.

Omorgus sp.
Bone Beetles feed on dry bones and animal hides … hence the names, common and scientific. They’re among the last insects on animal carcasses, cleaning up whatever is left over after the goannas and other scavengers have had their fill. So why are they visiting us (?!). Apparently they’re attracted to light.

Yet to be identified, these large beetles have been a common nocturnal sight recently.

Seconds after this shot, the frog (Litoria peronii) grabbed the beetle. And quickly spat it out again – I don’t know why.

Chrysolarentia mecynata

Phrissogonus laticostata

Probably Philobota sp.

Family: Oecophoridae

Psuedechis porphyriacus.

Nacoleia rhoeoalis

This moth’s vertical antennae readily betray its identity. It’s the only species I know that does this.

Subfamily: Spilomelinae