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

Macroglossum errans (Australian Hummingbird Hawkmoth)

Metasia tiasalis (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae))

Mocis trifasciata (An Erebid moth (Erebinae))

Nola fasciata (A Noctuid moth (Nolidae))

Palimmeces undescribed species nr hemiphanes (Philobota group)

Phaeophlebosia furcifera (Forked Footman)

Philobota xiphostola

Prooedema inscisalis (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae))

Proteuxoa undescribed species 1

Protonoceras mitis (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae)

Protuliocnemis partita (A Geometer moth (Geometrinae))

Psaroxantha undescribed species (A concealer moth)

Pyroderces terminella (A Cosmet moth)

Serrodes campana (An Erebid moth)

Strepsicrates semicanella (A Tortricid moth (Olethreutinae))

Syntonarcha iriastis (Iriastis Moth)

Tatobotys janapalis (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae))

Tetrachroa edwardsi (Smerinthinae)

Tirathaba rufivena (Greater Coconut Spike Moth)

Traminda aventiaria (A Geometer moth)

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