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 Holder, ACT - 17 Mar 2026 by Miranda

Edosa ochracea (Yellow Tineid) at Lawson, ACT - Yesterday by TimL

Chrysolarentia interruptata (Boxed Carpet Moth) by Janet

Heliothela (genus) at Mount Clear, ACT - 15 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Epermeniidae (family) at Cook, ACT - 17 Mar 2026 by CathB

Orthaga thyrisalis (Teatree Web Moth) by DPRees125

Asura lydia (Lydia Lichen Moth) at Aranda, ACT - 16 Mar 2026 by CathB

Heteroteucha occidua at Aranda, ACT - 16 Mar 2026 by CathB

Phauloplana illuta at Aranda, ACT - 16 Mar 2026 by CathB

Chrysolarentia lucidulata (Lucid Carpet) by DPRees125

Faveria tritalis at Cook, ACT - 8 Mar 2026 by CathB

Leucania exarans (Hadeninae) at Harrison, ACT - 18 Mar 2026 by DPRees125

Phauloplana illuta at Cook, ACT - 8 Mar 2026 by CathB

Crocanthes prasinopis (A Curved -horn moth) at Cook, ACT - 9 Mar 2026 by CathB

Unverified Geometer moth (Geometridae) at Cook, ACT - 17 Mar 2026 by CathB

Garrha (genus) at Cook, ACT - 17 Mar 2026 by CathB

Unverified Tiger moth (Arctiinae) at Eden, NSW - 15 Mar 2026 by chriselidie

Nacoleia rhoeoalis at Eden, NSW - 15 Mar 2026 by chriselidie

Asura lydia at Nadgee, NSW - 14 Mar 2026 by chriselidie

Unverified Geometer moth (Geometridae) at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Halone sejuncta (Variable Halone) at Nadgee, NSW - 14 Mar 2026 by chriselidie

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Yarralumla, ACT - 18 Mar 2026 by TimL

Chrysolarentia chrysocyma (Small Radiating Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Heliocausta undescribed species by DPRees125

Glyphipterix cyanochalca (A Sedge moth 0r Gem moth (Glyphypterigidae) at Hall, ACT - 18 Mar 2026 by Anna123

Periallactis monostropha (A Concealer moth) at Harrison, ACT - 16 Mar 2026 by DPRees125

Acodia undescribed species (A Geometer moth (Larentiinae)) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Cruria donowani (Crow or Donovan's Day Moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 11 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Thalaina clara (Clara's Satin Moth) at Kenny, ACT - 12 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Cephonodes kingii (Gardenia Bee Hawk Moth) at Cotter River, ACT - 10 Mar 2026 by RAllen

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Aranda, ACT - 17 Mar 2026 by KMcCue

Palimmeces habrophanes (A Concealer moth) at Hall, ACT - 16 Mar 2026 by Anna123

Asura lydia at Crowther, NSW - 17 Mar 2026 by Frecko

Garrha (genus) at Fyshwick, ACT - 16 Mar 2026 by RodDeb

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Macarthur, ACT - 16 Mar 2026 by RodDeb

Meritastis laganodes (A Tortrix moth) at Gungahlin, ACT - 10 Mar 2026 by chriselidie

Orthaga thyrisalis (Teatree Web Moth) at Gundaroo, NSW - 15 Mar 2026 by Damon

Abantiades (genus) (A Swift or Ghost moth) at Higgins, ACT - 15 Mar 2026 by Untidy

Thema chlorochyta (A Concealer moth) by LisaH

Thudaca obliquella (A Gelechioid moth (Hypertrophidae) by LisaH

Uresiphita ornithopteralis (Tree Lucerne Moth) at Yass River, NSW - 15 Mar 2026 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 - 15 Mar 2026 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) at Harrison, ACT - 5 Mar 2026 by DPRees125

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

Palimmeces habrophanes (A Concealer moth) at Harrison, ACT - 12 Mar 2026 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

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Discussion

ibaird wrote:

11 min ago

Worn looking, but looks like H. floricola.
https://bold-au.hobern.net/taxon.php?taxid=102453

Heliothela (genus)

ibaird wrote:

24 min ago

Great photos!

Edosa ochracea

WendyEM wrote:

3 hrs ago

maybe Metasia zinckenialis which seems to be quite variable in amount of white spots and white on fringe
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=76993
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?verifiable=true&taxon_id=545404&place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744

Heliothela (genus)

DPRees125 wrote:

Yesterday

see additional photo, The antennae are somewhat out of focus unfortunately. However there appears to be striations on this specimen, so it might be a Garrha

Heliocausta undescribed species

ibaird wrote:

18 Mar 2026

No striations in antennae suggesting not Garrha (genus). Possibly Heliocausta (genus). Looks not dissimilar to 'Heliocausta undescribed species'.

Heliocausta undescribed species