Moth (Lepidoptera) field guide

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

Trichiocercus sparshalli (Sparshall's Moth)

Trigonistis asthenopa (Tiny Snout)

Trigonistis demonias (Long-snouted Moth)

Trigonodes hyppasia (Triangle Owlet)

Trismelasmos donovani (A Wood moth (Cossidae))

Tritopterna capyra (A tortrid moth)

Tritymba acrospila (Tritymba acrospila)

Tritymba pamphaea (Tritymba pamphaea)

Unplaced asthenopa (Unplaced asthenopa)

Unplaced biplaga (Acute Point Moth)

ALA Image

Unplaced desumpta (Unplaced desumpta)

Unplaced externaria (Mahogany Bark Moth (formerly Hypomecis externaria))

Male

Male underside

Underside

Unplaced leucostacta (Unplaced leucostacta)

Unplaced macrosema (Unplaced macrosema)

ALA Image

Unplaced nectarea (Unplaced nectarea)

Unplaced robusta (Unplaced robusta)

Unplaced suasaria (Unplaced suasaria)

Male

Female

Female underside

Uraba lugens (Gumleaf Skeletonizer)

Male

Female

Uresiphita ornithopteralis (Tree Lucerne Moth)

Underside

Larva

Urolitha bipunctifera (An Emerald moth)

1  «  43  44  45  46  47  48  49