Moth (Lepidoptera) field guide

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

Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth)

Plusiinae (subfamily) Immature (green looper)

Plusiodonta arctipennis (Hooked Elegant)

Kerry Vance, Tathra

Plutella (genus) (Plutella Moths)

Plutella xylostella (Diamondback Moth)

Poecilasthena (genus) (A looper moth)

Poecilasthena anthodes (Orange-grounded Delicate)

Poecilasthena balioloma (Stitched Delicate)

Poecilasthena pulchraria (Australian Cranberry Moth)

Poecilasthena scoliota (A Geometer moth (Larentiinae))

Poecilasthena sp. (Poecilasthena sp.)

ALA Image

Poecilasthena thalassias (Sea-blue Delicate)

Poliorhabda auriceps (A Concealer moth (Wingia Group))

Pollanisus (genus) (A Forester Moth)

Pollanisus apicalis

Pollanisus calliceros (A Forester moth (Procidinae))

Pollanisus cyanota (A Forester moth (Procidinae))

Pollanisus lithopastus (A Forester Moth)

Pollanisus subdolosa (A Forester Moth)

Pollanisus subdolosa or other (A Forester moth)

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