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 Case moth (Psychidae) at Lyons, ACT - Today by ran452

Psychidae (family) IMMATURE at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Endoxyla lituratus at Glen Forrest, WA - 22 Dec 2025 by Nugget71

Entometa fervens (Common Gum Snout Moth) by cmwal

Pyralis farinalis (Meal Moth (Pyralinae) at Acton, ACT - 12 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Psilosticha absorpta (Fine-waved Bark Moth) at Downer, ACT - Yesterday by RobertD

Unverified Curved-horn moth (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae) by Paul4K

Helicoverpa punctigera (Native Budworm) at Braidwood, NSW - 22 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Dec 2025 by Jennybach

Helicoverpa punctigera (Native Budworm) at Braidwood, NSW - 21 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Neola semiaurata (Wattle Notodontid Moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Clania ignobilis (Faggot Case Moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Oecophoridae (family) (Unidentified Oecophorid concealer moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Macrobathra desmotoma ( A Cosmet moth) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Aranda, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Boarmiini (tribe) (Unidentified Looper moth (Ennominae)) at Aranda, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by KMcCue

Gastrophora henricaria (Fallen-bark Looper, Beautiful Leaf Moth) by WGJD

Edosa fraudulens (Tineidae) at Lawson, ACT - 19 Dec 2025 by TimL

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) at Lyons, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by ran452

Lophotoma diagrapha at Higgins, ACT - 21 Dec 2025 by Jennybach

Lepidoptera unclassified ADULT moth at Nicholls, ACT - 5 Apr 2025 by ExcitableLights

Hellula hydralis (Cabbage Centre Moth) at Braidwood, NSW - 20 Dec 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Etiella behrii (Lucerne Seed Web Moth) at Cook, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by CathB

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Goulburn, NSW - 19 Dec 2025 by glbn1

Doratifera quadriguttata (Four-spotted Cup Moth) at Goulburn, NSW - 17 Dec 2025 by glbn1

Noctuidae (family) at Higgins, ACT - 20 Dec 2025 by MichaelWenke

Atalopsis heniocha at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Nomophila corticalis at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Gelechioidea (superfamily) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Achyra affinitalis at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Tachystola stenoptera at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Coeranica isabella at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis reserata at Combaning, NSW - 9 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Faveria tritalis at Junee, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Morosaphycita oculiferella at Junee, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis reserata at Mimosa, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota arabella at Mimosa, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Eublemma inconspicua at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Tanyzancla argutella at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Phytotrypa propriella at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Helicoverpa (genus) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota arabella at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Thema psammoxantha (A concealer moth) at Eaglemont, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Heidelberg, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

Heliothinae (subfamily) at Eaglemont, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

Anestia (genus) (A tiger moth) at Heidelberg, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

$Ectropis fractaria at Heidelberg, VIC - 19 Dec 2025 by Hejor1$

Genduara punctigera (Spotted Clear Winged Snout Moth) at Rosedale, NSW - 19 Dec 2025 by jb2602

Utetheisa pulchelloides (Heliotrope Moth) at O'Malley, ACT - 12 Dec 2025 by Mike

Psychanisa (genus) (A case moth) at O'Malley, ACT - 14 Dec 2025 by Mike

Epidesmia hypenaria (Long-nosed Epidesmia) at Hume, ACT - 19 Dec 2025 by SteveBorkowskis

Termessa zonophanes (Double Yellow-patched Footman) by SteveBorkowskis

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) at Aranda, ACT - 19 Dec 2025 by Banambila

Ectopatria horologa (Nodding Saltbush Moth) by CathB

Edosa fraudulens (Tineidae) at Cook, ACT - 9 Dec 2025 by CathB

Thoracolopha verecunda (A Noctuid moth (Acronictinae)) by CathB

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) at Cook, ACT - 9 Dec 2025 by CathB

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Cook, ACT - 8 Dec 2025 by CathB

Capua intractana (A Tortricid moth) at Cook, ACT - 8 Dec 2025 by CathB

Epiphyas xylodes (A Tortricid moth (Tortricinae)) by CathB

Heteromicta pachytera (Galleriinae subfamily moth) by CathB

Phrissogonus laticostata (Apple Looper Moth) by CathB

Crocidosema plebejana (Cotton Tipworm Moth) at Cook, ACT - 10 Dec 2025 by CathB

Philobota productella (Pasture Tunnel Moth) by CathB

Stathmopoda crocophanes (Yellow Stathmopoda Moth) by CathB

Hellula hydralis (Cabbage Centre Moth) at Cook, ACT - 5 Dec 2025 by CathB

Capua intractana (A Tortricid moth) by CathB

Anaptilora homoclera (Autostichinae) at Cook, ACT - 5 Dec 2025 by CathB

Cosmodes elegans (Green Blotched Moth) at Cook, ACT - 5 Dec 2025 by CathB

Arrade leucocosmalis (A Hypeninae moth) at Cook, ACT - 17 Dec 2025 by CathB

Eccymatoge callizona (White-spotted Carpet) by CathB

Euphona euphona (A Tortricid moth (Epitymbiini) at Nadgee, NSW - 10 Dec 2025 by Pirom

Chrysonoma concisella (A Concealer moth (Wingia group) at Nadgee, NSW - 9 Dec 2025 by Pirom

Plutella xylostella (Diamondback Moth) at Nadgee, NSW - 7 Dec 2025 by Pirom

Pterolocera (genus) (Antheliid moth) at Nadgee, NSW - 8 Dec 2025 by Pirom

Helicoverpa (genus) (A bollworm) at Whitlam, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by sangio7

Anthela (genus) immature at Hawker, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by sangio7

Hellula hydralis (Cabbage Centre Moth) at Turner, ACT - 11 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis reserata at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota (genus) (Unidentified Philobota genus moths) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota arabella (Concealer moth) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Achyra (genus) (Unidentified Achyra) at Temora, NSW - 8 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota protecta (A concealer moth) at Illabo, NSW - 7 Oct 2025 by ConBoekel

Doratifera (genus) (Cup Moth) at Euroa, VIC - 18 Dec 2025 by Hejor1

Chrysolarentia correlata (Yellow Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 17 Dec 2025 by JohnBundock

Chrysolarentia correlata (Yellow Carpet) at Brindabella, ACT - 17 Dec 2025 by JohnBundock

Aeolochroma metarhodata (Tea-tree Emerald (Geometrinae)) at Lyons, ACT - 18 Dec 2025 by ran452

Bondia nigella (A Fruitworm moth (Family Carposinidae)) at Paddys River, ACT - 17 Dec 2025 by TimL

Epidesmia hypenaria (Long-nosed Epidesmia) at Cotter River, ACT - 17 Dec 2025 by JohnBundock

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

11 hrs ago

Gauna aegusalis has mostly smooth white lines across the forewing (Pyralis farinalis has a distinct dip in the pale post medial line - closer to termen) G. aegusalis has half fawn-grey half tan area between 2 white lines (P. f. mostly sandy/fawn with some tan suffusion). In G. aegusalis the basal section of the forewing extending to the first white line is fawn-grey (P. f. this section is tan)
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=9841
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=380430

Pyralis farinalis

ibaird wrote:

Yesterday

Scieropepla (genus)? eg. S, typhicola?

Unverified Curved-horn moth (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae)

RogerF wrote:

21 Dec 2025

Not seen at Reservoir Hill for several years

Synemon plana

ibaird wrote:

20 Dec 2025

https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/wing/propriella.html
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=404904