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

Unverified Curved-horn moth (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae) at Acton, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by TimL

Aglaopus pyrrhata at Fadden, ACT - 21 Nov 2025 by Harrisi

Pollanisus (genus) (A Forester Moth) at Bombay, NSW - Yesterday by MatthewFrawley

Asura lydia at Bombay, NSW - Yesterday by MatthewFrawley

Scieropepla polyxesta at O'Connor, ACT - Yesterday by ConBoekel

Unverified Case moth (Psychidae) at O'Connor, ACT - Yesterday by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at O'Connor, ACT - Yesterday by ConBoekel

Ptochostola microphaeellus (A Crambid moth) at O'Connor, ACT - Yesterday by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - 22 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Aeolothapsa malacella (A Concealer moth) at Holder, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by Miranda

Mythimna (Pseudaletia) convecta (Common Armyworm) at Holder, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by Miranda

Halone coryphoea (Eastern Halone moth) at Yass River, NSW - Yesterday by SenexRugosus

Hypodoxa bryophylla at Braemar, NSW - Yesterday by Curiosity

Phrataria replicataria (Pale Phrataria) at Bulli, NSW - 21 Nov 2025 by jb2602

Anachloris subochraria (Golden Grass Carpet (Ennominae)) at Gungahlin, ACT - 22 Nov 2025 by chriselidie

$Tonica effractella (A Gelechioid moth (Depressidae)) at Bulli, NSW - 21 Nov 2025 by jb2602$

Ptyoptila matutinella (Wingia Group) at Bulli, NSW - 21 Nov 2025 by jb2602

Chezala brachypepla (A Concealer moth) at Bulli, NSW - 21 Nov 2025 by jb2602

Condica macrosema (A Noctuid moth (Condicinae) at Bulli, NSW - 20 Nov 2025 by jb2602

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) at Captains Flat, NSW - 22 Nov 2025 by Csteele4

Olbonoma triptycha (Chezela Group) at Gungahlin, ACT - 22 Nov 2025 by chriselidie

Prays autocasis at O'Connor, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Macrobathra desmotoma ( A Cosmet moth) at O'Connor, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Leucania uda (A Noctuid moth) at Turner, ACT - 13 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Syncometes vilis (Barea Group) at Turner, ACT - 13 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Heliothinae (subfamily) at Turner, ACT - 13 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Monopis crocicapitella (Bird Nest Moth) at Turner, ACT - 13 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Epidesmia hypenaria (Long-nosed Epidesmia) at O'Connor, ACT - 11 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Palaeotoma styphelana at Turner, ACT - 10 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Epiphyas (genus) at Turner, ACT - 10 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Utetheisa (genus) (A tiger moth) at Campbell, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Taxeotis intextata (Looper Moth, Grey Taxeotis) at Campbell, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Tortricopsis aulacois (A Concealer moth (Wingia group)) at Campbell, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Oecophoridae (family) (Unidentified Oecophorid concealer moth) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Macrobathra desmotoma ( A Cosmet moth) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Philobota physaula (Striped Philobota) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Clania (genus) (A case moth) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 21 Nov 2025 by DianneClarke

Eupselia satrapella (Eupselia satrapella) at Pebbly Beach, NSW - 10 Nov 2025 by Pirom

Palaeosia bicosta (Two-ribbed Footman) at Hackett, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Pirom

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern Old Lady Moth) at Pebbly Beach, NSW - 9 Nov 2025 by Pirom

Chrysodeixis argentifera (Tobacco Looper) at Reid, ACT - 25 Oct 2025 by Pirom

Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) at Reid, ACT - 2 Nov 2025 by Pirom

Ctenomeristis almella (Almella Frass Moth) at Pebbly Beach, NSW - 11 Nov 2025 by Pirom

Chlorocoma dichloraria (Guenee's or Double-fringed Emerald) by Paul4K

Isomoralla eriscota (Philobota Group) at O'Connor, ACT - 21 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis intextata (Looper Moth, Grey Taxeotis) at O'Connor, ACT - 21 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Agrotis porphyricollis (Variable Cutworm) at Turner, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota protecta (A concealer moth) at Turner, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Microdes villosata (Distorted Carpet) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Macrobathra chrysotoxa (A Cosmet moth (Cosmopteriginae) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Thema macroscia (A Concealer moth (Chezala group) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Case moth (Psychidae) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Synemon plana (Golden Sun Moth) at Forde, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by rawshorty

Heterozyga coppatias (Chezela group) at Hall, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by Anna123

Didymoctenia exsuperata (Thick-lined Bark Moth) at Hall, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by Anna123

Taxeotis endela (Looper or geometer moth) at Yass River, NSW - 21 Nov 2025 by SenexRugosus

Heliocheilus cramboides (Whitebar Grass Moth) at Yass River, NSW - 21 Nov 2025 by SenexRugosus

Dithalama cosmospila (Grey Spotted Wave) at Turner, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis perlinearia at Turner, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Arotrophora arcuatalis (Banksia Boring Moth) at Turner, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Voliba scoparialis (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae) at Chiltern, VIC - 25 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis intextata at Chiltern, VIC - 25 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota ellenella (a Concealer Moth) at Chiltern, VIC - 25 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis intextata (Looper Moth, Grey Taxeotis) at Wanniassa, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by SteveBorkowskis

Halone coryphoea (Eastern Halone moth) at Page, ACT - 10 Nov 2025 by DonTaylor

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Bonython, ACT - 17 Nov 2025 by GG

Leptozestis (genus) (A Gelechioid moth (Cosmopterigidae)) by DianneClarke

Capusa stenophara (Dusky Wedge-moth) at West Hobart, TAS - 19 Nov 2025 by VanessaC

Oenogenes fugalis (A Pyralid moth) at Yass River, NSW - 19 Nov 2025 by SenexRugosus

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE (caterpillar or pupa or cocoon) at Parkes, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Oecophoridae (family) (Unidentified Oecophorid concealer moth) at Parkes, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Acyphas (genus) (Lymantriinae, Erebidae) at Fyshwick, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE (Unidentified Cone Case Moth larva, pupa, or case) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Oecophoridae (family) (Unidentified Oecophorid concealer moth) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Olbonoma triptycha (Chezela Group) at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Taxeotis perlinearia at Campbell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE (Unidentified Cone Case Moth larva, pupa, or case) at Russell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Philobota protecta (A concealer moth) at Russell, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Stathmopoda crocophanes (Yellow Stathmopoda Moth) at Lawson, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by TimL

Heliocosma (genus) (A Tortricid moth) by DianneClarke

Myrtartona coronias (A Forester moth (Procidinae)) at Hawker, ACT - 18 Nov 2025 by sangio7

Hyalarcta nigrescens (Ribbed Case Moth) at Russell, ACT - 17 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Lichenaula arisema (A Xyloryctine moth) at Russell, ACT - 17 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Antictenia punctunculus (A geometer moth) at Kaleen, ACT - 17 Nov 2025 by MinaK

Gelechioidea (superfamily) at Lawson, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by TimL

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - 17 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Aeolothapsa malacella (A Concealer moth) at Turner, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Barea (genus) at Turner, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Isotenes miserana (Orange Fruit Borer) at Turner, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Crocydopora cinigerella (A Pyralid moth) at Turner, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Diplopseustis perieresalis (Eastern Black Tabby) at Turner, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota pedetis (Spotty Philobota) at Denman Prospect, ACT - 17 Nov 2025 by Miranda

Athetis tenuis (Plain Tenuis Moth) at Turner, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

Great shots of an interesting moth.

Tonica effractella

DianneClarke wrote:

Yesterday

Thanks Wendy - I looked at Notodryas with names but forgot to check BOLD

Notodryas (genus)

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

Notodryas sp. ANIC1 ?
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=408678

Notodryas (genus)

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

Palaeotoma styphelana is close but has longer mouthparts and distinct bumps (v. technical term!) on wings. Also the antennae are attached further forward on the head (in front of the eyes). I think the dark patch is further down the wing in this moth too. The large eyes is a good match. I am not persuaded but have not found an alternative.

Palaeotoma styphelana

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

Above seems to lack the 'checkered' appearance that the iNat examples show but otherwise a good match. Appearance MAY be photo technique/gear? Possibly E. fabricata going by BOLD (Hobern). BOLD (Hobern) specimens of E. postvittana like this seem to be (south western) WA specimens. E. dotonata may be the best match for these subtle markings.

Epiphyas (genus)