THREE affiliate members were welcomed to the August meeting and it was announced Mary Payton would be taking over the duties of speaker secretary from Peter Sylvester.

Speaker for the afternoon, Paddy O'Brien, was introduced after Derek Spencer's monthly poem, this time applauding his own modesty!

Paddy's talk was entitled Exotic Moths and Butterflies and he brought mounted specimens with him.

Between 200 and 600 eggs can be laid but only three or four pupae might survive because of predators such as parasitic flies and birds.

Moths and butterflies use various means to survive, such as camouflage and imitating other creatures.

The eight-inch Snakes Head Moth portrays snakes heads on its wings, which it moves threateningly.

One species of caterpillar has a false leg, under its chin, which it clicks as a deterrent and the Desert Hawk Moth squeaks.

Paddy regularly attends butterfly shows and buys chrysalises from all over the world and hatches them on bamboo poles over the kitchen stove to keep them moist and warm.

During his talk, Paddy included many amusing references to his childhood, which kept the audience enthralled.