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 wandering

Proteuxoa tibiata at Phillip, ACT - Today 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 - Yesterday 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

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) 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

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

Chrysolarentia chrysocyma (Small Radiating Carpet) 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

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

Ardozyga tetraploa (A Gelechiod moth (Ardozyga group) 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

Eutrichopidia latinus (Yellow-banded Day-moth) at Braidwood, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by MatthewFrawley

Asura cervicalis (Spotted Lichen Moth) at Braidwood, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by MatthewFrawley

Pholodes sinistraria (Sinister or Frilled Bark Moth) at Russell, ACT - 3 Feb 2026 by Hejor1

Conoeca guildingi (A case moth) at Casey, ACT - 14 Feb 2026 by Hejor1

Stathmopoda crocophanes (Yellow Stathmopoda Moth) at Campbell, ACT - 5 Feb 2026 by Hejor1

Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Kambah, ACT - 14 Feb 2026 by HelenCross

Culladia cuneiferellus (Crambinae moth) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 14 Feb 2026 by amiessmacro

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern Old Lady Moth) at Holder, ACT - 11 Feb 2026 by Miranda

Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Armidale, NSW - 13 Feb 2026 by Jayson

Idaea costaria (White-edged Wave) at Yass River, NSW - 12 Feb 2026 by SenexRugosus

Epipaschiinae (subfamily) (A Pyralid moth) at Yass River, NSW - 12 Feb 2026 by SenexRugosus

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Discussion

ibaird wrote:

Yesterday

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:

Yesterday

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:

Yesterday

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

WendyEM wrote:

Yesterday

I immediately thought Fraus but was not happy with any of the sp for matching the wing pattern. The specimens on Don's site do not have white spots like the above moth has. Also Kallies, A. et al in Moths of Victoria Part 6 CD p2/2 for that sp say it used to be found widely in eastern Victoria now mainly in the Alps above 1400m. Also if it is bigger than male Elhamma australasiae it way too big for any of the Fraus sp.
I have been considering Oncopera rufobrunnea
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=892233

Oncopera rufobrunnea

ibaird wrote:

Yesterday

The hairiness around the head and forelegs suggests Fraus (genus). A Fraus fusca female?
https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/hepi/fusca.html

Oncopera rufobrunnea