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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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

see https://butterflyconservationsa.net.au/product/book-caterpillars-moths-and-their-plants/
p. 41

Hyalarcta nigrescens

AlisonMilton wrote:

9 Feb 2026

@WendyEM Thanks Wendy. I wouldn't have guessed. To my nked eye I thought it might be a strange leafhopper.

Hyalarcta nigrescens

RAllen wrote:

8 Feb 2026

I note there is an ACT record on ALA. A specimen at ANIC from Namadgi below Mt Murray.

Aponotoreas epicrossa

WendyEM wrote:

8 Feb 2026

early case looks like this

Hyalarcta nigrescens

ibaird wrote:

8 Feb 2026

See also
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/864618-Aponotoreas-epicrossa
Excellent sighting if ID confirmed. Excellent photo by RAllen whose coverage of the Larentiinae locally is exemplary1
A new species for Naturemapr and the ACT if confirmed.

Aponotoreas epicrossa