Synemon sppSynemon directa

Sun Moths describe a group of moths in the genus Synemon, family Castniidae. Described by Edward Doubleday in 1846, includes 31 described species (at time of writing in Atlas of Living Australia), with many undescribed species.

Sun Moth Synemon spp, Yarloop WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sun Moth Synemon spp, Yarloop WA © Jean and Fred Hort

Sun Moths usually have dull coloured forewings when at rest, that conceal their brightly coloured hindwings, thought to startle potential predators when disturbed.

Sun Moth Synemon spp, Yarloop WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sun Moth Synemon spp, Yarloop WA © Jean and Fred Hort

The adult moths are seen flying during the daytime and with their clubbed antennae, are often mistaken for butterflies.

Synemon sp, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon sp, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort

Found in a variety of habitats such as woodlands, heathlands and perennial grasslands across Australia, Western Australia has the highest diversity of Synemon species.

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 directa (Sun Moth), Mt Cooke WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon directa (Sun Moth) feeding on Hakea ruscifolia, Mt Cooke WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon directa (Sun Moth) feeding on Hakea ruscifolia, Mt Cooke WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon directa (Sun Moth) feeding on Hakea ruscifolia, Mt Cooke WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon sp on Verticordia pennigera, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon sp on Verticordia pennigera, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon obscurella, Ballidu Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon obscurella, Ballidu Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon sp on Verticordia pennigera, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon sp on Verticordia pennigera, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon sp, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon sp, south western region WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon Sunmoth, Badgingarra National Park WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon Sunmoth, Badgingarra National Park WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sun Moth Synemon spp, WA © Jean and Fred Hort
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Unranked: Ditrysia
  • Superfamily: Castnioidea
  • Family: Castniidae
  • Genus: Synemon

Footnote & References

  1. Synemon spp, Photographs © Jean and Fred Hort
  2. Synemon Doubleday, 1846, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/4eca6eb6-27e0-4178-94ab-e7e9302e2cd0
  3. Genus Synemon, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/203921-Synemon
  4. “Synemon at funet.fi”, Lepidoptera and some other life forms, Nic.funet.fi. 2005-09-24, https://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/sesioidea/castniidae/castniinae/synemon/index.html

Synemon sppSynemon directa

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

Western Australia InsectsBees (Native Bees) Moths Planthopper Wasps

Western Australia FaunaBirds Insects Reptiles Spiders

Western AustraliaWestern Australia Fauna Western Australia Flora The Batavia Coast and Midwest WA Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park Great Southern WA South West WA Stirling Range National Park