Moth (Lepidoptera) field guide

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

Cryptoptila (genus) (A Totricid moth (Tortricini))

Cryptoptila australana (Elderberry Leaf Roller Moth)

Cryptoptila immersana (A Tortricid moth)

Female

Female

Male

Cryptothelea fuscescens (A Case moth (Psychidae))

Ctenomeristis almella (Almella Frass Moth)

Ctenoplusia limbirena (Scar Bank Gem (Plusiinae))

Ctenoplusia near albostriata (A Noctuid moth (Plusiinae))

Culama anthracica (A Carpenter moth (Cossinae)

Culama australis (A Wood moth (Cossidae))

Culama glauca (A Wood moth)

Culama suffusca (Culama suffusca)

Culladia cuneiferellus (Crambinae moth)

View of the grey hindwing with a whitish inner margin.

Cyana meyricki (A Tiger moth (Lithosiini)

Cyclophora obstataria (A geometer moth)

Cycloprorodes melanoxysta (Black-edged Geometrid)

Cycloprorodes melanoxysta (Black-edged Geometrid)

Cyclotorna egena (An Ant worm (Cyclotornidae)

Cyclotorna sp. (Cyclotorna sp.)

Cyme structa (Banded Lichen Moth)

ALA image

Cyneoterpna wilsoni (Cyneoterpna wilsoni)

Male

Female

Male underside

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