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

Utetheisa lotrix (Crotalaria Moth)

Utetheisa pulchelloides (Heliotrope Moth)

Shows 5 red spots on the trailing forewing edge clearly

Vacuana vacuana (A Tortricid moth (Tortricinae))

Visiana brujata (Brujata Carpet)

Wheeleria spilodactylus (Horehound plume moth)

Wingia aurata (Golden Leaf Moth)

Wingia lambertella

Xanthorhoe anaspila (Dark-patch Carpet)

Xanthorhoe strumosata (Strumosata Carpet)

Xanthorhoe vacuaria (Vacuaria Carpet)

Xanthorhoe xanthospila (Yellow-spotted Carpet)

Xanthorhoe xerodes (Xerodes Carpet)

Xylorycta (genus) (A concealer moth)

Xylorycta assimilis (A Xyloryctid moth)

Xylorycta calligramma (A Gelechioid moth (Xyloryctidae)

Xylorycta luteotactella (A Gelechioid moth)

Xylorycta parabolella (A Xyloryctid moth (Xyloryctidae))

Xyloryctidae (family)

Zacorus carus (White Wingia)

undersides

mating pair

Zelleria cynetica (Rectangular Ermine Moth)

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