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

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Yarralumla, ACT - Today by TimL

Plutella xylostella (Diamondback Moth) by DPRees125

Hypoperigea tonsa (A Noctuid moth (Acronictinae) by DPRees125

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

Oxycanus (genus) 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 - Yesterday by Anna123

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE at Franklin, ACT - Today by chriselidie

Leistomorpha brontoscopa (A concealer moth) at Scullin, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Termessa xanthomelas (A moth) by DianneClarke

Leistomorpha brontoscopa (A concealer moth) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Anestia (genus) (A tiger moth) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE by chriselidie

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE at Franklin, ACT - Yesterday by chriselidie

Eulechria convictella (Eulechria convictella) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Phrissogonus laticostata (Apple looper moth) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday 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 - Yesterday by Hejor1

Nomophila corticalis at Campbell, ACT - Yesterday by Hejor1

Cebysa leucotelus (Australian Bagmoth) at Russell, ACT - Yesterday by Hejor1

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

Halone consolatrix (Marbled Halone) at Russell, ACT - Yesterday by Hejor1

Melanodes anthracitaria (Black Geometrid) by DPRees125

Metura elongatus (Saunders' Case Moth) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday 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

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

Lymantriinae (subfamily) (Unidentified tussock moths) at Parkes, ACT - 1 Sep 2025 by AlisonMilton

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 3 Sep 2025 by WendyEM

Pholodes sinistraria (Sinister or Frilled Bark Moth) at Latham, ACT - 6 Sep 2025 by rjwhite

Philobota (genus) (Unidentified Philobota genus moths) by DianneClarke

Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE (Unidentified IMMATURE Swift or Ghost Moth) at Bandiana, VIC - 6 Sep 2025 by KylieWaldon

Protuliocnemis partita (A Geometer moth (Geometrinae)) at Moodlu, QLD - 6 Sep 2025 by Horsehoon63

Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE (Unidentified Cone Case Moth larva, pupa, or case) at Belconnen, ACT - 6 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Strepsicrates ejectana (Strepsicrates ejectana) at Hall, ACT - 6 Sep 2025 by Anna123

Nola pleurosema (Plain Tuft-moth) at Hall, ACT - 6 Sep 2025 by Anna123

Plutella (genus) (Plutella Moths) at Downer, ACT - 6 Sep 2025 by RobertD

Hippotion scrofa (Coprosma Hawk Moth) at Parkes, ACT - 6 Sep 2025 by TimL

Chelepteryx chalepteryx (White-stemmed Wattle Moth) by MazzV

Pyralis farinalis (Meal Moth (Pyralinae) by MazzV

Praxis edwardsii (Edward's Praxis) by MazzV

Pingasa cinerea (Tan-spotted Grey) by MazzV

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE (Unidentified case moth or bagworm) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 14 Mar 2025 by MazzV

Pyralis farinalis (Meal Moth (Pyralinae) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 13 Mar 2025 by MazzV

Spodoptera umbraculata (A Noctuid moth (Acronictinae)) by MazzV

Metura elongatus (Saunders' Case Moth) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 27 Feb 2025 by MazzV

Zygaenidae (family) (Forester and Burnet moths) by MazzV

Leptocneria reducta (White Cedar Moth) by MazzV

Unverified Case moth (Psychidae) by MazzV

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE (Unidentified case moth or bagworm) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 25 Dec 2024 by MazzV

Eutorna tricasis (A Depressariid moth) at Baradine, NSW - 6 Aug 2025 by Pirom

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE at Russell, ACT - 5 Sep 2025 by Hejor1

Lithosiini (IMMATURE) (A Footman or Lichen moth (Lithosiini)) at Kingsdale, NSW - 5 Sep 2025 by trevorpreston

Helicoverpa (genus) (A bollworm) at Borough, NSW - 4 Sep 2025 by Paul4K

Prasinocyma semicrocea (Common Gum Emerald moth) by Paul4K

Amphiclasta lygaea (Ragged Geometrid (Ennominae)) by Paul4K

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ibaird

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Discussion

chriselidie wrote:

1 hr ago

Thanks for your comment! I've got different colour versions of this type of caterpillar, which I've posted in different posts. They may all be E. excusaria - or not. I'm trying to raise these caterpillars to their adult form, that may help decide what they are.

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE

chriselidie wrote:

2 hrs ago

Great, thank you - that's very helpful!

Ectropis (genus) immature

WendyEM wrote:

3 hrs ago

maybe ?? I admit I can't find an alternative.

Nomophila corticalis

ibaird wrote:

3 hrs ago

Does look close to a late instar of E. excusaria (see LBH) but difficult to be sure. E, excursaria is known to feed on lemon trees.

Geometridae (family) IMMATURE

WendyEM wrote:

3 hrs ago

I have added an edited pic to show the b&w mark I mean

Ectropis (genus) immature

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Moths (Lepidoptera)

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