Silver Knight
Psaltoda plaga (Walker, 1850)
© Popple Creative Industries 2014–2019
Male
Female
Other name(s):
Black Prince.
Species number (TNS):
103.
Fore wing length:
37–47 mm.
Distribution and seasonality:
From south of Bundaberg,
coastally and subcoastally
south to southern New South
Wales. It is also present on the
central western slopes in New
South Wales at Warrumbungle
National Park. Adults occur
from late October to May,
occasionally extending to early
June.
Notable localities:
Bli Bli, Peachester, Lake
Samsonvale, Redland Bay,
Sydney, Campbelltown.
Habitat:
Riparian forest, dry sclerophyll
forest, gallery forest, riverine
woodland and mangroves.
Adults occurs principally on
eucalypts and she-oaks, but
also on Grey Mangrove
(Avicennia marina).
Calling song and behaviour:
Harsh and metallic with a
continuous wine and a pulsing
component. Adults occur in
local aggregations on the upper
branches of trees.
Colour variation:
Silver Knight occurs in olive and
green colour forms. These
occur along the coastal belt
from Bundaberg south to north-
eastern New South Wales. The
darker forms of Silver Knight
are known as Black Prince,
which varies from jet black to
rich brown/black and also slate
grey. It occurs from the
Sunshine Coast Hinterland west
to the slopes of the Great
Dividing Range and south to
beyond Sydney. Black Prince is
the common colour form in the
suburbs of Sydney.
Similar species:
Clanger, Phantom Knight.
Habitat
dr-pop.net database record
Currently known extent