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

Latest sightings

Opodiphthera eucalypti at Tuross Head, NSW by Spar

Amata (genus) (Handmaiden Moth) at Broulee, NSW by Hejor1

Fodina ostorius (Fodina ostorius) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Asura lydia (Lydia Lichen Moth) at Pebbly Beach, NSW by Pirom

Coequosa australasiae (Double Headed Hawk Moth) at Termeil, NSW by DavidAllsop

$Ectropis fractaria (Ringed Bark Moth) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1$

Culladia cuneiferellus (Crambinae moth) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Leptozestis and Trachydora (genera) (A cosmet moth) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Chloroclystis catastreptes (Green and Brown Carpet) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Antictenia punctunculus (A geometer moth) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Cryphaea xylina (Woodland Geometrid) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Macrobathra desmotoma ( A Cosmet moth) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Macrobathra (genus) (A cosmet moth) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Orgyia anartoides (Painted Apple Moth) at Kangaroo Valley, NSW by Chakola

Tetraschalis arachnodes (A Plume moth (Pterophorinae)) at Kangaroo Valley, NSW by Chakola

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern old lady moth) at Wollongong, NSW by SimonDunstan

Neola semiaurata (Wattle Notodontid Moth) at Erowal Bay, NSW by Harrisi

Chabuata dentosa at Coolumburra, NSW by Harrisi

Oenochroma privata (A Geometer moth (Oenochrominae)) at Barren Grounds, NSW by nancyp

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern old lady moth) at Surfside, NSW by RomanSoroka

Myrascia trijugella (Wingia Group) at Moruya, NSW by LisaH

Dichromodes estigmaria (Pale Grey Heath Moth) at Moruya, NSW by LisaH

Eutrichopidia latinus (Yellow-banded Day-moth) at Moruya, NSW by LisaH

Hyalarcta huebneri (Leafy Case Moth) at Moruya, NSW by LisaH

Dichromodes ornata (A Geometer moth (Oenochrominae)) at Moruya, NSW by LisaH

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) at South Durras, NSW by ajlandford

Hylaeora eucalypti (Gum Rough-head) at Benandarah, NSW by ajlandford

Spodoptera picta (Lily Caterpillar) at South Durras, NSW by ajlandford

Orgyia anartoides (Painted Apple Moth) at Benandarah, NSW by ajlandford

Pholodes sinistraria (Sinister or Frilled Bark Moth) at South Durras, NSW by ajlandford

Orgyia anartoides (Painted Apple Moth) at Benandarah, NSW by NAL23

Australothis rubrescens (Indian Weed Caterpillar) at Dalmeny, NSW by Teresa

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Discussion

kasiaaus wrote:

Yesterday

I'm not sure that this ID is right. I now think it might be Prays autocasis. See ALA for a single photo of this species but I can't figure out where it was taken. I've just uploaded another sighting of the same moth - see sighting 4643650. These two moths are very close in appearance and to me look different to Prays nephelomima.

Prays nephelomima

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

wing and head shape is close to Meyrickiella homosema

Phycitinae (subfamily)

DianneClarke wrote:

Yesterday

That is what the AI in iNat also suggestes.

Epipaschiinae immature unidentifiedspecies

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

OK, I have now found this in Caterpillars, Moths and their plants of southeastern Australia by Peter McQuillan, Jan Forrest, David Keane & Roger Grund. 2019 Publ. Butterfly Conservation South Australia p. 79 They raised Salma pyrastis from a caterpillar looking the same as this. Food plants were recorded as 2 Eucalyptus sp

Epipaschiinae immature unidentifiedspecies

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

female

Chloroclystis insigillata