Moths (Lepidoptera)

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Useful references:

CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) - Australian Moths Online
Don Herbison-Evans web pages:
- Moths of Australia
- Australian caterpillars and their butterflies and moths

In the notes provided about individual species, semi-technical terms are sometimes used. They are briely explained below.

Labial palpi. These are paired appendages extending from the lower part of the head, on either side of the proboscis. They provide important information about the family of the moth.

Parts of a moth’s wing:

Costa: The leading edge of the wing

Inner margin: The trailing edge of the wing

Termen: The outer margin of the wing, connecting the costa to the inner margin

Apex: The leading tip of the wing, where the costa and termen meet

Tornus: The trailing corner of the wing, where the termen and inner margin meet

Cilia. Long hairy scales along an edge of the wing

Moths (Lepidoptera)

Anthelid moths (Anthelidae)

Case moths (Psychidae)

Concealer moths (Oecophoridae)

Curved-horn moths (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae)

Emperor moths (Saturniidae)

Geometer moths (Geometridae)

Hawk moths (Sphingidae)

Noctuoid moths (except Arctiinae)

Pyralid or Snout Moths (Pyralidae & Crambidae)

Sun moths (Castniidae)

Swift and Ghost moths (Hepialidae)

Tiger moths (Arctiinae)

Tortricid moths (Tortricidae)

Wood moths (Cossidae)

Other moths

Latest sightings

Taxeotis perlinearia (Spring Taxeotis) at Moruya, NSW - Yesterday by LisaH

Taxeotis perlinearia (Spring Taxeotis) by LisaH

Apina callisto (Pasture Day Moth) at Symonston, ACT - 7 Sep 2025 by DavidDedenczuk

Etiella behrii (Lucerne Seed Web Moth) at Hall, ACT - Yesterday by Anna123

Achyra affinitalis (Cotton Web Spinner, Pyraustinae) at Hall, ACT - Yesterday by Anna123

Psilosticha absorpta (Fine-waved Bark Moth) at Hall, ACT - Yesterday by Anna123

Cryptophasa (genus) (A Gelechioid moth (Xyloryctidae) at Shark Creek, NSW - 24 Aug 2025 by Topwood

Pantydia sparsa (Noctuid Moth) at Latham, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by rjwhite

Uresiphita ornithopteralis (Tree Lucerne Moth) at Latham, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by rjwhite

Halone (genus) (A Tiger moth) at Russell, ACT - 11 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Leistomorpha brontoscopa (A concealer moth) at Campbell, ACT - 11 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Metura elongatus (Saunders' Case Moth) by Aussiegall

Sciaphila debiliana (A Tortricid moth) at Albury, NSW - Yesterday by KylieWaldon

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Latham, ACT - Yesterday by Jennybach

Scopula optivata (Varied Wave) by Noddap

Apina callisto at Whitlam, ACT - 11 Sep 2025 by Numbat

Tathorhynchus fallax (Australian Alfalfa Moth) at Latham, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by rjwhite

Pantydia sparsa (Noctuid Moth) at Latham, ACT - 11 Sep 2025 by rjwhite

Pantydia sparsa (Noctuid Moth) at Conder, ACT - 24 May 2025 by MichaelBedingfield

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at West Wodonga, VIC - 9 Sep 2025 by KylieWaldon

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE by chriselidie

Pterolocera (genus) (Antheliid moth) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 7 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Anthela (genus) immature (Unidentified Anthelid Moth) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 7 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Monopis icterogastra (Wool Moth) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 7 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Uraba lugens (Gumleaf Skeletonizer) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 7 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Fuscicepsana fuscicepsana (A Tortricid moth) by Aussiegall

Bedellia somnulentella (Sweet Potato Leaf Miner) by DPRees125

Scopula optivata (Varied Wave) at Harrison, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by DPRees125

Agrotis radians (Brown Cutworm) at Yarralumla, ACT - 10 Sep 2025 by TimL

Achyra affinitalis (Cotton Web Spinner, Pyraustinae) at Harrison, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by DPRees125

Etiella behrii (Lucerne Seed Web Moth) at Harrison, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by DPRees125

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) by DPRees125

Plutella xylostella (Diamondback Moth) by DPRees125

Gelechioidea (superfamily) (Unidentified Gelechioid moth) by DPRees125

Hypoperigea tonsa (A Noctuid moth (Acronictinae) by DPRees125

Aproaerema simplexella & isoscelixantha (Australian Soybean Moth (A. simplexella)) by DPRees125

Oxycanus (genus) (Unidentified Oxycanus moths) at Conder, ACT - 23 May 2025 by MichaelBedingfield

Zermizinga sinuata (Lucerne Looper, Spider Moth) by DPRees125

Hippotion scrofa (Coprosma Hawk Moth) by DPRees125

Phrissogonus laticostata (Apple looper moth) at Hall, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by Anna123

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE at Franklin, ACT - 10 Sep 2025 by chriselidie

Leistomorpha brontoscopa (A concealer moth) at Scullin, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Termessa xanthomelas (A moth) by DianneClarke

Leistomorpha brontoscopa (A concealer moth) at Higgins, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Anestia (genus) (A tiger moth) at Higgins, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE at Franklin, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by chriselidie

Eulechria convictella (Eulechria convictella) at Higgins, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Phrissogonus laticostata (Apple looper moth) at Higgins, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Hypoperigea tonsa (A Noctuid moth (Acronictinae) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 8 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

$Syneora fractata (Ennominae) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 8 Sep 2025 by WendyEM$

Hoplostega ochroma (a Eulechria Group moth) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 8 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Eulechria convictella (Eulechria convictella) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 8 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Ectropis (genus) immature by chriselidie

Helicoverpa punctigera (Native Budworm) by DPRees125

Cosmodes elegans (Green Blotched Moth) at Harrison, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by DPRees125

Phelotis cognata (Long-fringed Bark Moth) by DPRees125

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Campbell, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Nomophila corticalis (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae) at Campbell, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Cebysa leucotelus (Australian Bagmoth) at Russell, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE (Unidentified case moth or bagworm) at Russell, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Halone consolatrix (Marbled Halone) at Russell, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Melanodes anthracitaria (Black Geometrid) by DPRees125

Metura elongatus (Saunders' Case Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 9 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE at Holt, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Rhinodia rostraria (Necklace Geometrid) at Conder, ACT - 15 May 2025 by MichaelBedingfield

Oenosandra boisduvalii (Boisduval's Autumn Moth) at Scullin, ACT - 24 Aug 2025 by AlisonMilton

Anestia (genus) (A tiger moth) at Russell, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE (caterpillar or pupa or cocoon) at Campbell, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Limacodidae (family) (A cup moth) at Campbell, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE (Unidentified Cone Case Moth larva, pupa, or case) at Barton, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Chloroclystis filata (Filata Moth, Australian Pug Moth) at Russell, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Ardozyga amblopis (A Gelechiod moth (Gelechiidae) at Higgins, ACT - 24 Aug 2025 by AlisonMilton

Phrissogonus laticostata (Apple looper moth) at Harrison, ACT - 7 Sep 2025 by DPRees125

Proteuxoa provisional species 1 at Harrison, ACT - 7 Sep 2025 by DPRees125

Dasygaster padockina (Tasmanian Cutworm) by DPRees125

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 8 Sep 2025 by blacksheep

Eudesmeola lawsoni (Lawson's Night Moth) by DPRees125

Hypoperigea tonsa (A Noctuid moth (Acronictinae) at Symonston, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by rawshorty

Epiphyas ashworthana (Ashworth's Tortrix) at Symonston, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by rawshorty

Phrissogonus laticostata (Apple looper moth) at Symonston, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by rawshorty

Tathorhynchus fallax (Australian Alfalfa Moth) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 7 Sep 2025 by DianneClarke

Chlorocoma dichloraria (Guenee's or Double-fringed Emerald) by DianneClarke

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 7 Sep 2025 by DianneClarke

Anthela ocellata (Eyespot Anthelid moth) at Symonston, ACT - 8 Sep 2025 by rawshorty

Anthela varia (Hairy Mary) at Birdsville, QLD - 21 Aug 2025 by HelenCross

Utetheisa (genus) (A tiger moth) at Birdsville, QLD - 21 Aug 2025 by HelenCross

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE (caterpillar or pupa or cocoon) at Amaroo, ACT - 7 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE (Unidentified case moth or bagworm) at Gherang, VIC - 4 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Hypertrophidae (family) (Unidentified Twig Moth) at Amaroo, ACT - 7 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE (caterpillar or pupa or cocoon) at Belconnen, ACT - 6 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

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Amata

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

I went for a wander through the paddocks late yesterday. I think it was a bit early for them to be out feeding. I eventually saw oodles of Pterolocera sp larvae, no Anthea sp. I've only recorded A. acuta, nicothoe & ocellata moths here so far.

Anthela (genus) immature

MichaelBedingfield wrote:

Yesterday

A common sighting at my home, see TimeLine.

Pantydia sparsa

donhe wrote:

Yesterday

A. basigera has white dots like that but i think its hairs are paler than this one. Maybe it is one of A. basigera's relatives : A. euryphrica or A. oressarcha. Not enough Anthela larvae have had the portraits published to sure of any of them.

Anthela (genus) immature

ibaird wrote:

11 Sep 2025

If not this species, maybe another in the Bedellia (gemus)? Family: Lyonetiidae.

Bedellia somnulentella

WendyEM wrote:

11 Sep 2025

Yes, they tend to be rather flighty or hide under things.

Scopula rubraria

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Moths (Lepidoptera)

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