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

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Announcements

NatureMapr now receives more records in NSW than ACT

7 Mar 2025

Since 1 Jan 2025, NatureMapr 44% of all sightings uploaded were NSW based, while 43% were from the ACT.The remaining 13% were from other states, with VIC coming in third at 5%.Strictly speaking, 67% o...

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Discussion

donhe wrote:

5 hrs ago

The leg tufts are right for A, asterias.

Unidentified Moth (Lepidoptera)

WendyEM wrote:

5 hrs ago

MALE

Unidentified Moth (Lepidoptera)

WendyEM wrote:

6 hrs ago

re colour. I think there is a strange wave-length/filtering of light being used, giving some images the strange green hue. see Sighting 4532024 the plume moth image from same site

Epicompsa xanthocrossa

ibaird wrote:

15 hrs ago

Dianne, I had to re-classify and re-identify this species, it had been placed errponeously amongst the Hawk Moths! Please verify your sighting again.

Stathmopoda cyanopla

ibaird wrote:

Yesterday

THis moth is distinctly green, not pink.

Epicompsa xanthocrossa