Moths (Lepidoptera)

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

Featured sightings

Mochlotona phasmatias (Draped Geometrid) at Penrose, NSW - 8 Dec 2024 by Aussiegall

Oncopera (genus) (A Bardie moth) at Mittagong, NSW - 3 Jan 2025 by Span102

$Ectropis fractaria (Ringed Bark Moth) at Penrose, NSW - 24 Nov 2024 by Aussiegall$

Ericeia sobria (A Noctuid moth (Eribidae)) at Penrose, NSW - 3 Oct 2024 by Aussiegall

Lepidoscia lainodes (A Case moth (Psychidae)) at Braemar, NSW - 18 Jul 2024 by Curiosity

Chelepteryx chalepteryx (White-stemmed Wattle Moth) at Penrose - 22 May 2022 by Aussiegall

Epicoma (genus) at Penrose - 28 Jan 2024 by Aussiegall

Asura compsodes at Wingecarribee Local Government Area - 19 Jan 2024 by Span102

Moderators

MichaelMulvaney

donhe

ibaird

SuziBond

canberrabutterflies

DiBickers

become a moderator

Discussion

Aussiegall wrote:

7 Jan 2025

Thanks for the ID @ibaird

Mochlotona phasmatias

ibaird wrote:

7 Jan 2025

Female. A new species for NatureMapr and NatureMapr's Southern Highlands region. Nice sharp photo.

Mochlotona phasmatias

ibaird wrote:

5 Jan 2025

I'm wondering whether A eximia (Forest Ghost moth) is not the more likely ID given its strongly south eastern distribution evident on the ALA and on LBH and these images which show specimens with the two isolated black dots with white centres, presumably the female also. see here;-
https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/61a7e442-eed7-40ea-9249-1e01170d45ec
https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/a3d76c87-cadd-4330-9825-523872ee7d88
A. blackburni apparently (on ALA map evidence) has a more 'dry country' distribution ie western Victoria and in South Australia.

Aenetus eximia

ibaird wrote:

4 Jan 2025

I found it hard to match this one to a particular species. Agree its an Oncopera (genus) moth (or 'Corby') moth, though., most like O, rufobrunnea I think - althogh noy showing overall brown colour. I suspect these moths often routinely 'play dead' when handled.

Oncopera (genus)

donhe wrote:

3 Jan 2025

Oncopera fasciculatus?

Oncopera (genus)