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

Featured sightings

Glyphipterix cyanophracta (A Sedge moth or Gem moth (Glyphypterigidae) at Guthega, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by Harrisi

Damias procrena (Procrena Footman) at Guthega, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by Harrisi

Scoparia hypoxantha (A Crambid moth (Scopariinae) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 19 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Glyphipterix cyanophracta (A Sedge moth or Gem moth (Glyphypterigidae) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 19 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Ardozyga tetraploa (A Gelechiod moth (Ardozyga group) by LisaH

Chrysolarentia persimilis (Similar Carpet) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 1 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Thudaca trabeata (A Twig moth (Hypertrophinae) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 1 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Porela vetusta (Ancient Porela) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Nov 2025 by RAllen

Latest sightings

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) at Evatt, ACT - Today by GlenTakkenberg

Gelechioidea (superfamily) at Latham, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by Caric

Asura cervicalis at Hall, ACT - Yesterday by Anna123

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Parkes, ACT - Yesterday by TimL

Gastrinodes argoplaca at Parkes, ACT - Yesterday by TimL

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) at Parkes, ACT - Yesterday by TimL

Eutrichopidia latinus at Uriarra Village, ACT - Yesterday by Harrisi

Neumichtis nigerrima at Tighes Hill, NSW - Yesterday by AnneliesePhillips

Endoxyla encalypti (Wattle Goat Moth) at Karabar, NSW - Yesterday by twofishkissing

Epicurica laetiferanus (Wingia group) at Hall, ACT - Yesterday by Anna123

Proteuxoa tibiata (Horseshoe Noctuid) at Phillip, ACT - Yesterday by Mike

Garrha (genus) (A concealer moth) at O'Malley, ACT - 23 Feb 2026 by Mike

Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth, Common Cutworm) at Michelago, NSW - 25 Feb 2026 by Illilanga

Mimaglossa (genus) (A Pyralid moth (Epipaschiinae) by Paul4K

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

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Boro, NSW - 24 Feb 2026 by Paul4K

Hednota grammellus (Crambinae) by Paul4K

$Ectropis fractaria (Ringed Bark Moth) by Paul4K$

Psilosticha absorpta (Fine-waved Bark Moth) at Conder, ACT - 24 Nov 2025 by MichaelBedingfield

Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta (Blood-spotted Noctuid) at Latham, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by rjwhite

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Latham, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by rjwhite

Genduara acedesta (Painted Clear Winged Snout Moth) by SteveBorkowskis

Amata (genus) (Tiger Moth) at Theodore, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by Cardy

Culladia cuneiferellus (Crambinae moth) at Braidwood, NSW - 24 Feb 2026 by MatthewFrawley

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) at Michelago, NSW - 24 Feb 2026 by Illilanga

Hednota relatalis (A Crambid moth (Crambinae) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 19 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Scirpophaga imparellus (A Crambid moth (Schoenobiinae) at Moruya, NSW - 20 Feb 2026 by LisaH

Hednota grammellus (Crambinae) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 20 Feb 2026 by LisaH

Amata (genus) (Tiger Moth) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 20 Feb 2026 by LisaH

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Hall, ACT - 19 Feb 2026 by Anna123

Anthela ocellata (Eyespot Anthelid moth) by nmcphan

Abantiades labyrinthicus (Labyrinthine Ghost Moth) at Gundaroo, NSW - 22 Feb 2026 by Damon

Philenora omophanes (Delicate Philenora) at Guthega, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by Harrisi

Oenogenes fugalis (A Pyralid moth) at Guthega, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by Harrisi

Pholodes sinistraria (Sinister or Frilled Bark Moth) at Belconnen, ACT - 20 Feb 2026 by JohnGiacon

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern Old Lady Moth) at Belconnen, ACT - 15 Jan 2026 by JohnGiacon

Dissomorphia australiaria (Dashed Geometrid, Ennominae) at Belconnen, ACT - 14 Jan 2026 by JohnGiacon

Mythimna (Pseudaletia) convecta (Common Armyworm) at Belconnen, ACT - 8 Jan 2026 by JohnGiacon

Pantydia sparsa (Plain Pantydia) by sangio7

Chrysodeixis (genus) (Green looper (Plusiinae) by Paul4K

Faveria tritalis (Couchgrass Webworm) at Isaacs, ACT - 20 Feb 2026 by Mike

Olbonoma triptycha (Chezela Group) at Isaacs, ACT - 20 Feb 2026 by Mike

Stathmopoda crocophanes (Yellow Stathmopoda Moth) at Isaacs, ACT - 20 Feb 2026 by Mike

Chrysolarentia perornata (Ornate Carpet) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 19 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Anthela ferruginosa (Rusty Anthelid) at Moruya, NSW - 20 Feb 2026 by LisaH

Halone (genus) at Charlotte Pass, NSW - 19 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Anisogona similana (A tortrix moth) by LisaH

Chrysolarentia heteroleuca (White-patched Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Philobota mucida (A Concealer moth (Philobota group) at Lyons, ACT - 20 Feb 2026 by ran452

Chrysolarentia chrysocyma (Small Radiating Carpet) at Guthega, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by Harrisi

Asterivora lampadias (A Metalmark moth) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 19 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Asura cervicalis (Spotted Lichen Moth) at Braidwood, NSW - 19 Feb 2026 by MatthewFrawley

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Parkes, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by TimL

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Aranda, ACT - 15 Feb 2026 by Jennybach

Dysbatus singularis at Parkes, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by TimL

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Wilsons Valley, NSW - 13 Feb 2026 by Harrisi

Abantiades labyrinthicus (Labyrinthine Ghost Moth) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 18 Feb 2026 by Dron

Anthela ocellata (Eyespot Anthelid moth) at Symonston, ACT - 18 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Dysbatus (genus) (A Line Geometrid.) at Kambah, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by JohnBundock

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Symonston, ACT - 18 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Cosmaresta (genus) (Wingia Group) at Symonston, ACT - 18 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Orthaga thyrisalis (Teatree Web Moth) at Symonston, ACT - 18 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Symonston, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Orthaga thyrisalis (Teatree Web Moth) at Symonston, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm) at Symonston, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Whitlam, ACT - 18 Feb 2026 by caseypyne

Corethropalpa (genus) (A Concealer moth (Oecophorinae) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 13 Feb 2026 by DianneClarke

Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth) at Booth, ACT - 18 Feb 2026 by KMcCue

Psilogramma casuarinae (Privet Hawk Moth) at Symonston, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Eutrichopidia latinus (Yellow-banded Day-moth) at Braidwood, NSW - 17 Feb 2026 by MatthewFrawley

Ectropis (genus) at Lyons, ACT - 17 Feb 2026 by ran452

Dasygaster padockina (Tasmanian Cutworm) at Conder, ACT - 12 Dec 2025 by MichaelBedingfield

Tebenna micalis (Small Thistle Moth) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2026 by TimL

Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth) at Symonston, ACT - 16 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Anthela ocellata (Eyespot Anthelid moth) at Symonston, ACT - 16 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Mythimna (Pseudaletia) convecta (Common Armyworm) at Symonston, ACT - 16 Feb 2026 by rawshorty

Thema psammoxantha (A Concealer moth (Chezala group) at Lawson, ACT - 14 Feb 2026 by TimL

Amata (genus) (Tiger Moth) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 7 Feb 2026 by LisaH

Eutrichopidia latinus (Yellow-banded Day-moth) by LisaH

Hestiochora (genus) (A Forester or Burnet moth (Artonini)) by LisaH

Nemophora (genus) (A Fairy Moth) by LisaH

Halone coryphoea (Eastern Halone moth) at Latham, ACT - 15 Feb 2026 by LD12

Tipanaea patulella (The White Crambid moth) at Lower Borough, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by JaneR

Psilogramma casuarinae (Privet Hawk Moth) at Curtin, ACT - 12 Feb 2026 by JohnDM

Tipanaea patulella (The White Crambid moth) at Monga, NSW - 1 Feb 2026 by YellowButton

Chrysodeixis eriosoma (Green Looper) at Kingston, ACT - 14 Feb 2026 by YellowButton

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Lawson, ACT - 6 Feb 2026 by TimL

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Lawson, ACT - 5 Feb 2026 by TimL

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

8 hrs ago

AnneliesePhillips, do you have a way to crop the second (both) image closer to the moth and add that to the record? I tried myself but hit an error. I can't see enough detail to ID this, Wendy

Neumichtis nigerrima

WendyEM wrote:

8 hrs ago

It appears to be a female ovipositing

Endoxyla encalypti

ibaird wrote:

25 Feb 2026

Hi JaneJane, thanks for your sighting. The media you provided is missing or unclear. To help us verify this sighting, please provide additional media.

Aglaopus pyrrhata

ibaird wrote:

25 Feb 2026

Possibly Chezala conjunctella but the expected 2 dots not visible.
https://bold-au.hobern.net/taxon.php?taxid=160581
Chezala (genus)?

Unverified Curved-horn moth (all Gelechioidea except Oecophoridae)

ibaird wrote:

25 Feb 2026

Yes, good suggestion, several O. rufobrunnea specimens a similar dot pattern. The difficulty here is the angle of the shots and the expected underlying mottled pattern is not obvious.

Oncopera rufobrunnea

Significant sightings

Synemon plana at Lyneham, ACT
Synemon plana at O'Connor, ACT
Agrotis infusa at Ainslie, ACT
Baiocystis chrysoides at Barren Grounds, NSW
Anthela addita at West Hobart, TAS
Proteuxoa sp. (03) (MoV, Part 9) at Harrison, ACT
Androchela newmannaria at Crowther, NSW
Hymeninae sp, (2) (MoV) at Bulli, NSW
Nola tornotis at Bulli, NSW
Rehimena surusalis

Species Richness Score (SRS)

8,924

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