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

Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Sod Webworm)

Hymenia perspectalis (Spotted Beet Webworm Moth)

Idaea inquinata (Rusty Wave)

Mocis alterna (Bean Looper)

Neogalea sunia (Catabena Moth)

Nodaria cornicalis (Magas Fruit-borer)

Olene mendosa (Lymantriinae)

Omiodes diemenalis (Bean Leafroller)

Opogona omoscopa (Detritus Moth)

Pantydia capistrata (An Erebid moth)

Pantydia metaspila (A Noctuid moth (Eribidae))

Pelagodes veraria (A Geometer moth (Geometrinae))

Pericyma cruegeri (Poinciana Looper, Erebinae)

Plusiinae (subfamily) Immature (green looper)

Pyroderces falcatella (Cornworm)

Sauris malaca (A Geometer moth)

Sphenarches anisodactylus (Geranium Plume Moth)

Spodoptera picta (Lily Caterpillar)

Spoladea recurvalis (Beet Webworm)

Stathmopoda callichrysa (A curved-horn moth)

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