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

Psilogramma casuarinae (Privet Hawk Moth) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 3 Mar 2026 by SallyandPeter

Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Gundaroo, NSW - 13 Feb 2026 by Gunyijan

Cephonodes kingii (Gardenia Bee Hawk Moth) at Chapman, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by JackieHobo

Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Fyshwick, ACT - Yesterday by Thurstan

Tipanaea patulella (The White Crambid moth) at Parkes, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by TimL

Asura cervicalis (Spotted Lichen Moth) at Fyshwick, ACT - Yesterday by MatthewFrawley

Tipanaea patulella (The White Crambid moth) at Throsby, ACT - Yesterday by Numbat

Scioglyptis lyciaria (White-patch Bark Moth) at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Parkes, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by TimL

Uraba lugens (Gumleaf Skeletonizer) at Lerida, NSW - 21 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Oenochroma vetustaria (Ribbed Vine Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by AlisonMilton

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by AlisonMilton

Psilogramma casuarinae (Privet Hawk Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 2 Mar 2026 by AlisonMilton

Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta (Blood-spotted Noctuid) at Higgins, ACT - 2 Mar 2026 by AlisonMilton

Hednota relatalis (A Crambid moth (Crambinae) at Higgins, ACT - 2 Mar 2026 by AlisonMilton

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Higgins, ACT - 27 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) at Higgins, ACT - 27 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Porela delineata (Lined Porela) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Olbonoma triptycha (Chezela Group) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Syringoseca rhodoxantha (A Concealer moth (Wingia group)) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Eupselia beatella (A Twig moth (Hypertrophidae) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Isomoralla eriscota (A Concealer moth (Philobota group) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Uresiphita ornithopteralis at Higgins, ACT - 22 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Unverified Tiger moth (Arctiinae) at Tharwa, ACT - 15 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Doratifera quadriguttata (Four-spotted Cup Moth) at Lerida, NSW - 21 Feb 2026 by AlisonMilton

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at O'Malley, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by Mike

Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta (Blood-spotted Noctuid) at Crowther, NSW - 2 Mar 2026 by Frecko

Pholodes sinistraria (Sinister or Frilled Bark Moth) at Stirling, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by Harrisi

Psilogramma casuarinae (Privet Hawk Moth) at Yarralumla, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by 8Illbugyou8

Sosineura mimica (Sosineura mimica) at Aranda, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by KMcCue

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Aranda, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by KMcCue

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Lyons, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by ran452

Gelechioidea (superfamily) at Lyons, ACT - 3 Mar 2026 by ran452

Phaeophlebosia furcifera (Forked Footman) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 1 Mar 2026 by LOz

Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth) by HelenCross

Nyctemera amicus (Senecio Moth, Magpie Moth, Cineraria Moth) at Isaacs, ACT - 1 Mar 2026 by Mike

Proteuxoa capularis (Half-moon Noctuid) at Lyons, ACT - 28 Feb 2026 by ran452

Chrysolarentia vicissata (Vicissata Carpet) at Mount Clear, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Chrysolarentia persimilis (Similar Carpet) at Cotter River, ACT - 19 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Mixochroa sp. ANIC1 (An Emerald moth (Geometrinae) at Mount Clear, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Euloxia meandraria (Two-lined Euloxia) at Mount Clear, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Technitis amoenana (A tortrix or leafroller moth) at Mount Clear, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Amelora leucaniata (Striped Cape-moth (Ennominae)) at Mount Clear, ACT - 24 Feb 2026 by DPRees125

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) at Evatt, ACT - 27 Feb 2026 by GlenTakkenberg

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

Asura cervicalis (Spotted Lichen Moth) at Hall, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by Anna123

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Parkes, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by TimL

Doratifera quadriguttata (Four-spotted Cup Moth) at Boro, NSW - 26 Feb 2026 by Paul4K

Gastrinodes argoplaca (Cryptic Bark Moth) at Parkes, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by TimL

Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) at Parkes, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by TimL

Eutrichopidia latinus (Yellow-banded Day-moth) at Uriarra Village, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by Harrisi

Pataeta carbo (Dark Euteliid) at Tighes Hill, NSW - 26 Feb 2026 by AnneliesePhillips

Endoxyla encalypti (Wattle Goat Moth) at Karabar, NSW - 26 Feb 2026 by twofishkissing

Epicurica laetiferanus (Wingia group) at Hall, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by Anna123

Elhamma australasiae (A Swift or Ghost moth (Hepialidae)) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by wandering

Proteuxoa tibiata (Horseshoe Noctuid) at Phillip, ACT - 26 Feb 2026 by Mike

Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Crowther, NSW - 26 Feb 2026 by Frecko

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

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

Oncopera rufobrunnea (Brown Corby) 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

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Discussion

SallyandPeter wrote:

Yesterday

Thanks for the info

Psilogramma casuarinae

ibaird wrote:

Yesterday

Worn,

Olbonoma triptycha

WendyEM wrote:

3 Mar 2026

Lots of moths would like you etc to think that!

Pholodes sinistraria

WendyEM wrote:

3 Mar 2026

It is actually fairly small, < 12mm. It has very short pectinate antenna. I wonder if it is a Psychid? Shape looks quite like Trigonocyttara clandestina although I think that sp. is much bigger than this moth. I am still looking.

Unverified Noctuoid moth (except Arctiinae)

ibaird wrote:

3 Mar 2026

Hi 8Illbugyou8, thanks for your sighting. The media you provided is missing or unclear. To help us verify this sighting, please provide additional media.

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)