Western Australia MothsWA Moth Index Abantiades hydrographus Anomis definata Ardices glatignyi Austropaschia porrigens Ctenoplusia albostriata Hestiochora occidentalis Hippotion celerio (Vine Hawk Moth) Hippotion scrofa (Coprosma Hawk Moth) Myrtartona rufiventris Synemon spp

Moths belong to the order Lepidoptera (class Insecta), with Western Australia being home to a great variety of moths. Australia is home to more then 10,000 species of moths (with many species to be found in Western Australia and many species yet to be identified). A large number of moth species may seem to be duller in appearance and colours to those of the butterflies, but the sheer diversity of some of the moths, make for an interesting group of insects in their own right.

Moths form a group of some 125 families worldwide, with 82 families of moths represented in Australia.

As well as the winged adult species, keep an eye out for the various instar stages including caterpillar and pupa/chrysalis. Check out some of the moths we have documented here in Western Australia (from our contributors).

Aechaea janata
Aechaea janata, Yalgorup S F / Yalgorup National Park WA © Paul Kay
Aechaea janata, Yalgorup S F / Yalgorup National Park WA © Paul Kay
Cosmodes elegans
Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth), WA © Paul Kay
Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth), Yalgorup S F / Yalgorup National Park WA © Paul Kay
Geometridae (family)
Geometrid Moth (family Geometridae), Yalgorup S F / Yalgorup National Park WA © Paul Kay
Geometrid Moth (family Geometridae), Yalgorup S F / Yalgorup National Park WA © Paul Kay
Lantanophaga pusillidactylus
Lantana Plume Moth (Lantanophaga pusillidactylus), Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Lantana Plume Moth (Lantanophaga pusillidactylus), Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sceliodes cordalis
Sceliodes cordalis, Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sceliodes cordalis, Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sphenarches anisodactylus
Plume Moth (Sphenarches anisodactylus), Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Plume Moth (Sphenarches anisodactylus), Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon catocaloides
Synemon catocaloides (Sun Moth), Buntine Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon catocaloides (Sun Moth), Buntine Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon jcaria
Synemon jcaria (Sun Moth), Wyening WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon jcaria (Sun Moth), Wyening WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon obscurella
Synemon obscurella, Ballidu Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon obscurella, Ballidu Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort

Check out our main section on Fauna | Insects | Moths | Moths Index

This section is a work in progress… more information coming…

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Lepidoptera

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Paul Kay
  2. Photographs © Jean and Fred Hort

Western Australia MothsWA Moth Index Abantiades hydrographus Anomis definata Ardices glatignyi Austropaschia porrigens Ctenoplusia albostriata Hestiochora occidentalis Hippotion celerio (Vine Hawk Moth) Hippotion scrofa (Coprosma Hawk Moth) Myrtartona rufiventris Synemon spp

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