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

Uresiphita ornithopteralis (Tree Lucerne Moth) at Yass River, NSW - Yesterday by SenexRugosus

Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta (Blood-spotted Noctuid) at Hall, ACT - 13 Mar 2026 by Anna123

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 13 Mar 2026 by blacksheep

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Asura cervicalis (Spotted Lichen Moth) at Isaacs, ACT - 14 Mar 2026 by Mike

Ocrasa albidalis (A Pyralid moth) at Hall, ACT - 14 Mar 2026 by Anna123

Oenochroma vinaria (Pink-bellied Moth, Hakea Wine Moth) at Cook, ACT - 14 Mar 2026 by Chantal

Stathmopoda crocophanes (Yellow Stathmopoda Moth) at Holder, ACT - 14 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Hednota grammellus (Crambinae) at Holder, ACT - 12 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Scieropepla polyxesta at Chapman, ACT - 11 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Lepidoscia arctiella (Tower Case Moth) at Isaacs, ACT - 13 Mar 2026 by Mike

Anestia ombrophanes at Higgins, ACT - 13 Mar 2026 by Jennybach

Edosa ochracea (Yellow Tineid) by DPRees125

Ectropis (genus) (An engrailed moth) at Harrison, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by DPRees125

Palimmeces habrophanes (A Concealer moth) by DPRees125

Palimmeces habrophanes (A Concealer moth) at Harrison, ACT - 10 Mar 2026 by DPRees125

$Ectropis fractaria (Ringed Bark Moth) by Dron$

Chloroclystis pallidiplaga (White-shouldered Pug Moth) by DPRees125

Meritastis undescribed species (A Tortricid moth) by DPRees125

Hednota invalidellus (A Crambid moth (Chiloini) by DPRees125

Acyphas (genus) at Yass River, NSW - 12 Mar 2026 by SenexRugosus

Ocrasa acerasta (A Pyralid moth) at Crowther, NSW - 11 Mar 2026 by Frecko

Amelora (genus) (Nacophorini (Ennominae)) at Yass River, NSW - 12 Mar 2026 by SenexRugosus

Discophlebia celaena (Variable Snub Moth) at Yass River, NSW - 12 Mar 2026 by SenexRugosus

Anestia semiochrea (Marbled Footman) at Yarralumla, ACT - 12 Mar 2026 by Debbie05

Chrysodeixis eriosoma (Green Looper) at Queanbeyan, NSW - 12 Mar 2026 by Paul4K

Arrade destituta (Cryptic Snout Moth) by Paul4K

Lepidoscia characota (A Case moth (Psychidae) by Paul4K

Metasia capnochroa (Smokey Metasia Moth) by Paul4K

Clarana clarana (A Tortricid moth) by Paul4K

Proteuxoa capularis (Half-moon Noctuid) at Boro, NSW - 9 Mar 2026 by Paul4K

Agrotis ipsilon (Agrotis ipsilon) at Michelago, NSW - 11 Mar 2026 by Illilanga

Faveria tritalis (Couchgrass Webworm) at Parkes, ACT - 10 Mar 2026 by TimL

$Ectropis fractaria (Ringed Bark Moth) at Lyons, ACT - 11 Mar 2026 by ran452$

Pholodes sinistraria (Sinister or Frilled Bark Moth) at Parkes, ACT - 10 Mar 2026 by TimL

Telocharacta (genus) at Aranda, ACT - 9 Mar 2026 by CathB

Clarana clarana (A Tortricid moth) at Aranda, ACT - 9 Mar 2026 by CathB

Clarana clarana (A Tortricid moth) at Hall, ACT - 7 Mar 2026 by Anna123

Chrysolarentia vicissata (Vicissata Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Amelora oritropha (Alpine Striped Cape-moth (Ennominae)) at Cotter River, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Tebenna micalis (Small Thistle Moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) by rbannister

Glyphipterix amblycerella at Cotter River, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Acodia undescribed species (A Geometer moth (Larentiinae)) at Cotter River, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Chrysolarentia perornata (Ornate Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Lepidoscia confluens (A Case moth) at Fisher, ACT - 9 Mar 2026 by mroseby

Clania ignobilis (Faggot Case Moth) at Goulburn, NSW - 8 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) at Parkes, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by TimL

Lepidoscia confluens (A Case moth) at Lawson, ACT - 6 Mar 2026 by TimL

Uresiphita ornithopteralis (Tree Lucerne Moth) at Stirling, ACT - 8 Mar 2026 by Harrisi

Crocanthes micradelpha (A longhorned moth) at Vincentia, NSW - 8 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Epicephala (genus) at Vincentia, NSW - 8 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Pyraloidea (unidentified Pyraloid moth) (A Pyraloid moth (Pyraloidea)) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 23 Feb 2026 by blacksheep

Noctuoidea (superfamily) (A night moth) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 23 Feb 2026 by blacksheep

Anthela ocellata (Eyespot Anthelid moth) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 26 Feb 2026 by blacksheep

Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Burra, NSW - 8 Mar 2026 by Safarigirl

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 5 Mar 2026 by blacksheep

Agrotis porphyricollis (Variable Cutworm) at Isaacs, ACT - 8 Mar 2026 by Mike

Hednota relatalis (A Crambid moth (Crambinae) by Mike

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE (Unidentified case moth or bagworm) at Katoomba, NSW - 7 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Aranda, ACT - 7 Mar 2026 by KMcCue

Achyra affinitalis (Cotton Web Spinner) by LisaH

Metura elongatus (Saunders' Case Moth) by LisaH

Anisogona similana (A Tortrix moth (Epitymbiini) by LisaH

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Moruya, NSW - 7 Mar 2026 by LisaH

Egone bipunctalis (Eastern Two-spot) by LisaH

Epicoma tristis (Dark Epicoma Moth) by LisaH

Chrysolarentia chrysocyma (Small Radiating Carpet) at Perisher Valley, NSW - 27 Feb 2026 by RobG1

Glyphipterix acinacella at Hall, ACT - 7 Mar 2026 by Anna123

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Aranda, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by KMcCue

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) at Michelago, NSW - 7 Mar 2026 by Illilanga

Amata (genus) (Tiger Moth) at Vincentia, NSW - 6 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Duffy, ACT - 6 Mar 2026 by Harrisi

Merophyas divulsana (Lucerne Leafroller (Tortricinae, Archipini) at Holder, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Fraus (genus) at Leura, NSW - 6 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Subfurcatana subfurcatana (A Tortricid moth) at Leura, NSW - 6 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Lomera (genus) at Leura, NSW - 6 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Opodiphthera (genus) (A gum moth) at Leura, NSW - 6 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Psaroxantha calligenes (Wingia Group) by DPRees125

Oxythecta lygrosema (A Scat moth (Chezala group) by DPRees125

Proteuxoa (genus) (A Noctuid moth) at Harrison, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by DPRees125

Eupselia carpocapsella (Common Eupselia Moth) by DPRees125

Clarana clarana (A Tortricid moth) at Lyons, ACT - 6 Mar 2026 by ran452

Tipanaea patulella (The White Crambid moth) at Blaxland, NSW - 5 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Halone (genus) (A Tiger moth) at Russell, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by Hejor1

Comocrus behri (Mistletoe Day Moth) at Cook, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by CathB

Agarista agricola (Joseph's Coat Moth) at Cook, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by CathB

Thoracolopha melanographa at Harrison, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Palimmeces leucopelta (A concealer moth) by DPRees125

Pseudozarba orthopetes (Neat-lined Zarb) by DPRees125

Eretmocera coracopis at Isaacs, ACT - 4 Mar 2026 by Mike

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Lyons, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by ran452

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

4 hrs ago

Correct, these females are flightless/wingless. Males come to them to mate. Often there are multiple males. Then she lays her eggs on her sparse cocoon structure and dies among them - much shrunk.

Anestia semiochrea

DPRees125 wrote:

Yesterday

These two images are of the same moth which moved about. the first was taken at an angle , being higher than me.

Ectropis (genus)

ibaird wrote:

14 Mar 2026

Yes there is apparently a lot of variation in the species from dark to very white specimens.

Palimmeces habrophanes

ibaird wrote:

14 Mar 2026

I suggest it is a foreshortened (low angle from below in the first image) female Ectropis excursaria although the definitive markings at the outer edges of the hindwing (an upturned 'mainline' marking) are not quite visible due to the overlap of the forewing.

Ectropis (genus)

ibaird wrote:

14 Mar 2026

Given the lack of dark 'shoulder' markings I agree it is likely to be E. ochracea rather than E. ocranthes.

Edosa ochracea