MothsMoths Index Aedia arctipennis Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Austrocaligula engaea (Mistletoe Emperor Moth) Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Comocrus behri (Mistletoe Moth) Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth) Donuca spectabilis (White-spotted Owl-Moth) Four-spotted Cup Moth (Doratifera quadriguttata) Endoxyla cinereus (Carpenter Moth) Hippotion celerio (Vine Hawk Moth) Hyles livornicoides (Australian Striped Hawk Moth) Leaf Case Moth Metura elongatus (Saunders’ Case Moth) Ochrogaster lunifer (Bag-shelter Moth) Opodiphthera eucalypti (Emperor Gum Moth) Plume Moth Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Utetheisa (Rattlepod Moth)
The Carpenter Moth or Giant Wood Moth (Endoxyla cinereus), is in the family Cossidae. A large moth, where the adult has a variable pattern of light and dark grey or brown on the forewings, with darker underwings. The female have a wingspan up to 23 cms, whilst the males wingspan is smaller up to 11 cms.
The larvae of this moth bore into the trunks of trees (the Eucalyptus species). Pupation takes place in the larval tunnel, from which the adult moth will emerge, often leaving the empty pupal skin sticking out of the hole.
The following is a female specimen of Endoxyla cinereus , that was taken whilst light trapping close to the Millstream Homestead in the Pilbara, WA. The species is found in most states of Australia and can be quite common locally depending on suitable conditions.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Unranked: Ditrysia
- Superfamily: Cossoidea
- Family: Cossidae
- Subfamily: Zeuzerrinae
- Genus: Endoxyla
- Species: Endoxyla cinereus
Footnote & References
- Many thanks for ID to Paul Kay, member of Butterflies, Moths and other Invertebrates of Australia, https://www.facebook.com/groups/170745013686340/
- Endoxyla cinereus (Tepper, 1890), Carpenter Moth, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https:/biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/52fd72bc-6152-47cc-864e-5a57115771f9
MothsMoths Index Aedia arctipennis Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Austrocaligula engaea (Mistletoe Emperor Moth) Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Comocrus behri (Mistletoe Moth) Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth) Donuca spectabilis (White-spotted Owl-Moth) Four-spotted Cup Moth (Doratifera quadriguttata) Endoxyla cinereus (Carpenter Moth) Hippotion celerio (Vine Hawk Moth) Hyles livornicoides (Australian Striped Hawk Moth) Leaf Case Moth Metura elongatus (Saunders’ Case Moth) Ochrogaster lunifer (Bag-shelter Moth) Opodiphthera eucalypti (Emperor Gum Moth) Plume Moth Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Utetheisa (Rattlepod Moth)