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

Metasia capnochroa at Turner, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by ConBoekel

Stathmopoda crocophanes at Turner, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by ConBoekel

Isomoralla gephyrota at O'Connor, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at O'Connor, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by ConBoekel

Chrysonoma fascialis at O'Connor, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by ConBoekel

Hypodoxa muscosaria (Textured Emerald) at Downer, ACT - Yesterday by RobertD

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Acton, ACT - Yesterday by TimL

Blastobasis (genus) at Cook, ACT - 22 Dec 2025 by CathB

Epidesmia hypenaria (Long-nosed Epidesmia) at Budawang, NSW - 27 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Epiphyas postvittana at Higgins, ACT - 27 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Noctuidae (family) at Higgins, ACT - 25 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Cebysa leucotelus (Australian Bagmoth) at Higgins, ACT - 16 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Pernattia pusilla at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Chelepteryx collesi (White-stemmed Gum Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Opodiphthera (genus) at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Conoeca guildingi (A case moth) at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Anestia (genus) at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Hawker, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Conoeca guildingi (A case moth) at Hawker, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Hypodoxa muscosaria (Textured Emerald) at Higgins, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Hyalarcta nigrescens (Ribbed Case Moth) at Hawker, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Doratifera (genus) (Cup Moth) at Hawker, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Metura elongatus (Saunders' Case Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE (Unidentified Cone Case Moth larva, pupa, or case) at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Clania lewinii & similar Casemoths at Higgins, ACT - 11 Dec 2025 by AlisonMilton

Chelepteryx collesi (White-stemmed Gum Moth) at Fraser, ACT - 27 Dec 2025 by BJC

Epicoma contristis (Yellow-spotted Epicoma Moth) at Deakin, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by LisaH

Circopetes obtusata (Grey Twisted Moth) at St Leonards, VIC - 25 Dec 2025 by quollscribe

Elachista (genus) at Turner, ACT - 12 Dec 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Lyons, ACT - 25 Dec 2025 by ran452

Hypobapta diffundens at Lyons, ACT - 25 Dec 2025 by ran452

Unverified Case moth (Psychidae) at Lyons, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by ran452

Oncopera rufobrunnea (Brown Corby) at Parkes, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by TimL

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern Old Lady Moth) at Ngunnawal, ACT - 24 Dec 2025 by lashurst

Epicoma contristis (Yellow-spotted Epicoma Moth) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 24 Dec 2025 by Harrisi

Oecophoridae (family) at Kambah, ACT - 24 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Trichiocercus sparshalli at Kambah, ACT - 24 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Hypobapta diffundens at Kambah, ACT - 24 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Unverified Case moth (Psychidae) at Lyons, ACT - 24 Dec 2025 by ran452

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Lyons, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by ran452

Endoxyla lituratus (A Wattle Goat Moth) at Glen Forrest, WA - 22 Dec 2025 by Nugget71

Entometa fervens (Common Gum Snout Moth) by cmwal

Pyralis farinalis (Meal Moth (Pyralinae) at Acton, ACT - 12 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Psilosticha absorpta (Fine-waved Bark Moth) at Downer, ACT - 23 Dec 2025 by RobertD

Unverified Curved-horn moth (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae) by Paul4K

Helicoverpa punctigera (Native Budworm) at Braidwood, NSW - 22 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Dec 2025 by Jennybach

Helicoverpa punctigera (Native Budworm) at Braidwood, NSW - 21 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Neola semiaurata (Wattle Notodontid Moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Clania ignobilis (Faggot Case Moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Oecophoridae (family) (Unidentified Oecophorid concealer moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Macrobathra desmotoma ( A Cosmet moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Boarmiini (tribe) (Unidentified Looper moth (Ennominae)) at Aranda, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Gastrophora henricaria (Fallen-bark Looper, Beautiful Leaf Moth) by WGJD

Edosa fraudulens (Tineidae) at Lawson, ACT - 19 Dec 2025 by TimL

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) at Lyons, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by ran452

Lophotoma diagrapha at Higgins, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by Jennybach

Hepialidae (family) at Nicholls, ACT - 5 Apr 2025 by ExcitableLights

Hellula hydralis (Cabbage Centre Moth) at Braidwood, NSW - 20 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Brown House Moth) by CathB

Etiella behrii (Lucerne Seed Web Moth) at Cook, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by CathB

Diatenes aglossoides (An Erebid Moth) by CathB

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Goulburn, NSW - 19 Dec 2025 by glbn1

Doratifera quadriguttata (Four-spotted Cup Moth) at Goulburn, NSW - 17 Dec 2025 by glbn1

Noctuidae (family) at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by MichaelWenke

Atalopsis heniocha at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Nomophila corticalis (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Gelechioidea (superfamily) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Achyra affinitalis (Cotton Web Spinner, Pyraustinae) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Tachystola stenoptera (Chezela Group) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Coeranica isabella (A Concealer moth (Wingia group)) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis reserata (A Geometer moth) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Faveria tritalis (Couchgrass Webworm) at Junee, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Morosaphycita oculiferella (A Pyralid moth (Phycitinae) at Junee, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis reserata (A Geometer moth) at Mimosa, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota arabella at Mimosa, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Eublemma inconspicua (Inconspicuous Eublemma) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Tanyzancla argutella (A Concealer moth (Wingia group) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Phytotrypa (genus) (A Concealer moth (Wingia group) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Helicoverpa (genus) (A bollworm) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota arabella at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Thema psammoxantha (A concealer moth) at Eaglemont, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Heidelberg, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

Heliothinae (subfamily) at Eaglemont, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

Anestia (genus) (A tiger moth) at Heidelberg, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

$Ectropis fractaria at Heidelberg, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1$

Genduara punctigera (Spotted Clear Winged Snout Moth) at Rosedale, NSW - 19 Dec 2025 by jb2602

Utetheisa pulchelloides (Heliotrope Moth) at O'Malley, ACT - 12 Dec 2025 by Mike

Psychanisa (genus) (A case moth) at O'Malley, ACT - 14 Dec 2025 by Mike

Epidesmia hypenaria (Long-nosed Epidesmia) at Hume, ACT - 19 Dec 2025 by SteveBorkowskis

Termessa zonophanes (Double Yellow-patched Footman) by SteveBorkowskis

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) at Aranda, ACT - 19 Dec 2025 by Banambila

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Discussion

intouch wrote:

9 min ago

the creature has been "identified" by my {17 yrs) granddaughter as the butterfly Orchard Swallowtail(?). I have a photo on my "new" Samsung mobile phone but i am only able to (my failings) share it via WhatsApp!

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)

WendyEM wrote:

1 hr ago

Do you have a photo of the moth you can load onto the sighting ?

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)

WendyEM wrote:

1 hr ago

the huge moth and tiny antennae indicate a Hep. e.g. look at antennae on Sighting 4716237. This moth is a much larger species than that one however.

Hepialidae (family)

WendyEM wrote:

2 hrs ago

Great series of shots showing emergence hole and pupal case, size difference between the mating/in cop pair - small male and egg carrying female.

Endoxyla lituratus

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

Yes the photos are excellent. I think this is Oncopera rufobrunnea which has a very similar wing shape. It is much more shaggy 'maned' like your moth and has the very hairy legs too - compared to Elhamma australasiae

Oncopera rufobrunnea