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

KMcCue wrote:

11 Jan 2026

Talanga tolumnialis

KMcCue wrote:

11 Jan 2026

Many thanks, a new one for me

Talanga tolumnialis

ibaird wrote:

11 Jan 2026

Faded, variable, but Thoracolopha melanographa?

Thoracolopha melanographa

WendyEM wrote:

10 Jan 2026

when looking at All records for a species on iNat it is best to Filter [grey button top-ish right of screen] for 'Research Grade' which narrows down to identified/identifiable Observations.

Doratifera quadriguttata

ibaird wrote:

10 Jan 2026

I'm not sure this matches the iNaturalist examples:-
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1353287-Labdia-argophracta/browse_photos
See also here:-
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=326537
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=372900

Elachista flammula