APS MITCHELL GROUP MEETS AT THE JOHN TAYLOR ROOM, KILMORE LIBRARY, SYDNEY STREET, KILMORE- 3RD MONDAY OF THE MONTH AT 7.30 PM
(Occasionally excursions may replace monthly meetings so it is advisable to check our latest newsletter or contact a committee member for up to date diary dates.)
THERE IS A $2.00 ENTRY WHICH GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO WIN THE RAFFLE PRIZE OF A NATIVE PLANT. TEA, COFFEE & BISCUITS AVAILABLE.
Next Meeting: In the John Taylor Room, Kilmore Library, Sydney Street Kilmore…
Come along to our first meeting for 2019 to hear about the usefulness of moths in nature & in our gardens, along with how they differ from butterflies…
Cathy Powers, a past APS Victoria President, and long time active member of APS Melton Bacchus Marsh Group, will be making a return guest speaker visit to APS Mitchell to present a talk titled: Lepidoptera: Moths and Butterflies
Chlorocoma tetraspila Photo: Cathy Powers
Cathy is an American by birth, carries dual citizenship, and has lived in Australia since 1976. Cathy has had a long interest in the natural environment, having lived on the eastern slopes of the Brisbane Ranges (south of Bacchus Marsh) for 25 years. Cathy & her husband reside on 30 acres, with the Brisbane Ranges National Park situated on their western boundary. Initially, Cathy’s serious interest in nature and photography was with terrestrial orchids. As a naturalist, when conducting fieldwork, other subjects attracted her attention and before she knew it, Cathy was photographing plants and insects. Enthusiasm for Australian native plants led to becoming President of Australian Plants Society Victoria and she was recently honoured to receive Life Membership. Because new things interest Cathy, after being introduced to moth photography, current work involves working with a team on the “Moths of Victoria” books and preparing a booklet on Moths of Brisbane Ranges (Cathy has photographed and identified just under 600 species at home).
The presentation will cover where the ‘moths’ fit in the scientific sense, the differences between moths and butterflies, and the life cycle of moths in general. Also their usefulness in nature and our gardens, as well as trying to dispel some ‘old wives tales’. An overview of the moth families and showing some of Cathy’s photographic images will also be included.
The guest speaker presentation will be followed by our flower specimen table “show & tell” (remember to bring something along from your garden) and conclude with supper & chat.
