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

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

It looks like Dysbatus sp. (1) of Moths of Victoria Part 5

Dysbatus (genus)

DPRees125 wrote:

Yesterday

Do we have a taxon here flying under multiple names?

Psaroxantha calligenes

WendyEM wrote:

26 Jan 2026

I agree it is Endoxyla sp. There is a sequence on iNat of a newly emerged E. lituratus which does show the white 'tummy' with the upper side of the abdomen black and white cross-ways stripes.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/191350527
Images on http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/coss/coss-under.html show various with white on the underside of the abdomen

Endoxyla (genus)

ibaird wrote:

26 Jan 2026

OK. Could not see any purple on head which would have suggested E. encalypti

Endoxyla (genus)

WendyEM wrote:

26 Jan 2026

I agree we can only go with Genus. I asked Axel Kallies about this group via iNat
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/208837654
"@kallies Hi Axel, Do moths in Scythrididae exhibit sexual dimorphism? If e.g. in very similarly marked moths - one has distinct colour bands on the antennae, the other has none, would this mean separate species?, variation? or dimorphism? Or too understudied to know?"

@wendyem I dont know too much about this group, have not noticed sexual dimorphism. But Eretmocera coracopis seems to be lacking the light scales if BOLD can be trusted"

Eretmocera (genus) (Scythrididae family)