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 Moth (Lepidoptera) by Miranda

Arhodia lasiocamparia (Pink Arhodia (Oenochrominae)) at Gungahlin, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Philobota protecta (A concealer moth) at Higgins, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Crocidosema plebejana (Cotton Tipworm Moth) at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Doratifera (genus) (Cup Moth) at Gungahlin, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Heliothinae (subfamily) at Gungahlin, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Epiphyas (genus) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Unverified Concealer moth (Oecophoridae) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Uresiphita ornithopteralis (Tree Lucerne Moth) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Gastrina cristaria (Wave-lined Geometrid) at Higgins, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Termessa zonophanes (Double Yellow-patched Footman) at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by AlisonMilton

Conoeca guildingi (A case moth) at Gungahlin, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Philobota xiphostola (A Concealer moth (Philibota group) at Gungahlin, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by AlisonMilton

Syncometes vilis (Barea Group) at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Ptyoptila matutinella (Wingia Group) at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Chelepteryx collesi (White-stemmed Gum Moth) at Theodore, ACT - Yesterday by Cardy

Thema macroscia (A Concealer moth (Chezala group) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Macrobathra desmotoma ( A Cosmet moth) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Epidesmia hypenaria (Long-nosed Epidesmia) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Zacorus carus (White Wingia) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Tortricopsis aulacois (A Concealer moth (Wingia group)) at O'Connor, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota (genus) (Unidentified Philobota genus moths) at Turner, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Labdia deliciosella (A Cosmet moth) at Turner, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Hoplostega ochroma (a Eulechria Group moth) at Turner, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Monopis crocicapitella (Bird Nest Moth) at Turner, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Crocidosema plebejana (Cotton Tipworm Moth) at Turner, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Sceliodes cordalis (Eggfruit Caterpillar, Poroporo Fruit Borer) at Symonston, ACT - Yesterday by rawshorty

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Gungahlin, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by chriselidie

Delexocha ochrocausta (Chezala Group) at Gungahlin, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by chriselidie

Thoracolopha verecunda (A Noctuid moth (Acronictinae)) at Hall, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by Anna123

Mormoscopa phricozona (An Erebid Moth (Herminiinae) by SteveBorkowskis

Lepidoscia arctiella (Tower Case Moth) at Fadden, ACT - 25 Nov 2025 by Mike

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) by SteveBorkowskis

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) at Googong, NSW - 25 Nov 2025 by Wandiyali

Barea codrella (A concealer moth) at Ainslie, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by jb2602

Barea (genus) at Yass River, NSW - 24 Nov 2025 by SenexRugosus

Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth) at Tharwa, ACT - 22 Nov 2025 by YellowButton

Endoxyla lituratus (A Wattle Goat Moth) at Acton, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by YellowButton

Tortricopsis uncinella (Wingia group) at Bulli, NSW - 22 Nov 2025 by jb2602

Culladia cuneiferellus (Crambinae moth) at Lyons, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by ran452

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern Old Lady Moth) at Gordon, ACT - 21 Nov 2025 by GG

Pollanisus (genus) (A Forester Moth) at Acton, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by Debbie05

Eulechria xeropterella (Eulechria xeropterella) at Acton, ACT - 20 Nov 2025 by TimL

Aglaopus pyrrhata (Leaf Moth) at Fadden, ACT - 21 Nov 2025 by Harrisi

Notodryas (genus) (A Concealer moth (Chezala group) by DianneClarke

Pollanisus (genus) (A Forester Moth) at Bombay, NSW - 23 Nov 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Asura lydia at Bombay, NSW - 23 Nov 2025 by MatthewFrawley

Scieropepla polyxesta at O'Connor, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Case moth (Psychidae) at O'Connor, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Helicoverpa punctigera (Native Budworm) at O'Connor, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Ptochostola microphaeellus (A Crambid moth) at O'Connor, ACT - 23 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Philobota protecta (A concealer moth) at Turner, ACT - 22 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Capua intractana 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 - 23 Nov 2025 by SenexRugosus

Hypodoxa bryophylla at Braemar, NSW - 23 Nov 2025 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 dotatana (A Tortricid moth (Tortricinae) 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

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

otherwise Philobota sp. ANIC62
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=409511

Philobota (genus)

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

ignore the line due to shadow of antenna

Philobota xiphostola

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

I got a moth rather like this last night. Mine, photographed from behind has a white spot on the thorax, not obvious on the above moth. I will see what iNat thinks, for another opinion. see
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/328281866

Barea (genus)

ibaird wrote:

Yesterday

Difficult ID because several named Barea spp. show this alternating black and white bar pattern in their forewings to some extent, I considered B. phoenochyta but which to me seems to have three white spots in-line whereas I thought B periodica apparently has only two prominent white spots in-line as in this specimen.

Barea (genus)

WendyEM wrote:

25 Nov 2025

Barea phoenochyta ? looks to have bigger white spots like above, also more local
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=415151
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=6744&taxon_id=924350
B. periodica
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=415183

Barea (genus)