Moths > Moths Index

Moths (together with Butterflies) are known collectively as lepidopterans, belonging to the order Lepidoptera, in the class Insecta. Australia is home to an amazing array of moths species. As well as the winged adult species, keep an eye out for the various instar stages including caterpillar and pupa/chrysalis.

We also like to thank our many contributors for their photographs.

Click on the following images (67) to see information on the moths.

Abantiades hydrographus, Rossmoyne WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Abantiades hydrographus
Aedia arctipennis - pictured on the Potato Vine (Ipomoea costata), Alice Springs, NT
Aedia arctipennis
Yellow Tiger Moth (Agape chloropyga), Goodna QLD © Marc Newman
Agape chloropyga (Yellow Tiger Moth)
Convolvulus Hawkmoth (Agrius convolvuli), Alice Springs, NT
Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawkmoth)
Agrius godarti (Godart’s Hawkmoth), Alice Springs NT
Agrius godarti (Godart’s Hawkmoth)
Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm Moth), Alice Springs NT
Agrotis munda (Brown Cutworm Moth)
Donovan's Tiger Moth (Aloa marginata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Aloa marginata (Donovan’s Tiger Moth)
Tiger Moth (Amata trigonophora), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Amata trigonophora (Tiger Moth)
Anomis definata, Yalgorup S F / Yalgorup National Park WA © Paul Kay
Anomis definata
Four-Spot Anthelid Moth (Anthela guenei), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth)
Crimson Tiger Moth (Ardices curvata), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth)
Ardices glatignyi, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Ardices glatignyi (Black and White Tiger Moth)
Arhodia lasiocamparia (Pink Arhodia), Alice Springs NT
Arhodia lasiocamparia (Pink Arhodia)
Australothis rubrescens, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Australothis rubrescens (Pink Noctuid Moth)
Caterpillar of the Mistletoe Emperor Moth (Austrocaligula engaea)
Austrocaligula engaea (Mistletoe Emperor Moth)
Wattle Cup Caterpillar (Calcarifera ordinata), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Calcarifera ordinata (Wattle Cup Caterpillar)
Calicotis crucifera (Leather-leaf Spore-eater), Adelaide Hills SA © Marianne Broug
Calicotis crucifera (Leather-leaf Spore-eater)
Case Moth - Ausemade filmstrip
Case Moths
Day Flying Hawk Moth (Cephonodes kingii) on Chinese Plumbago, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Cephonodes kingii (Day Flying Hawk Moth)
Chasmina pulchra, Alice Springs NT
Chasmina pulchra (White Beauty)
Sandal-box Hawk Moth (Coenotes eremophilae)
Coenotes eremophilae (instar Sandal-box Hawk Moth)
Day Flying Moth (Comocrus behri) feeding on Red-capped Gum (Eucalyptus erythrocorys)
Comocrus behri (Mistletoe Moth)
Green-blotched Moth (Cosmodes elegans), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth)
Ctenoplusia albostriata, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Ctenoplusia albostriata
Dasypodia selenophora (Southern Old Lady Moth), Alice Springs NT
Dasypodia selenophora (Southern Old Lady Moth)
Diatenes gerula (Erebid Moth), Alice Springs NT
Diatenes gerula (Erebid Moth)
White-spotted Owl-Moth (Donuca spectabilis)
Donuca spectabilis (White-spotted Owl-Moth)
Four-spotted Cup Moth (Doratifera quadriguttata)
Doratifera quadriguttata (Four-spotted Cup Moth)
Carpenter Moth (Endoxyla cinereus), Alice Springs NT
Endoxyla cinereus (Carpenter Moth)
Witchetty Grub Cossid Moth (Endoxyla leucomochla)
Endoxyla leucomochla (Cossid Moth)
Eudesmeola lawsoni (Lawson's Night Moth), Alice Springs NT
Eudesmeola lawsoni (Lawson’s Night Moth)
Genduara punctigera (Crexa Moth), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Genduara punctigera (Crexa Moth)
Geometrid Moth (family Geometridae), Yalgorup S F / Yalgorup National Park WA © Paul Kay
Geometridae, family (Geometrid Moth)
Australian Fruitworm (Helicoverpa punctigera), Alice Springs NT
Helicoverpa punctigera (Australian Fruitworm)
Hestiochora occidentalis, Wandoo National Park WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Hestiochora occidentalis
Vine Hawkmoth (Hippotion celerio), Wandella NSW © Deb Taylor
Hippotion celerio (Vine Hawk Moth)
Coprosma Hawk Moth (Hippotion scrofa), Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Hippotion scrofa (Coprosma Hawk Moth)
Ribbed Case Moth (Hyalarcta nigrescens), Alice Springs, NT
Hyalarcta nigrescens (Ribbed Case Moth)
Yeperenye / Yipirinya Caterpillar, Alice Springs, NT
Hyles livornicoides (Yeperenye / Yipirinya)
Australian Striped Hawk Moth (Hyles livornicoides), Alice Springs NT
Hyles livornicoides (Australian Striped Hawk Moth)
Laced Day-Moth (Ipanica cornigera), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT
Ipanica cornigera (Laced Day-Moth)
Leptocneria binotata, Alice Springs NT
Leptocneria binotata
Adult male Saunders' Case Moth (Metura elongatus), Canterbury-Bankstown, NSW © Malte Marquarding
Metura elongatus (Saunders’ Case Moth)
Mixocera latilineata, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Mixocera latilineata
Mocis alterna (Bean Looper Moth), Alice Springs NT
Mocis alterna (Bean Looper Moth)
Myrtartona rufiventris, Calingiri WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrtartona rufiventris
Bag-shelter Moth (Ochrogaster lunifer), Alice Springs NT
Ochrogaster lunifer (Bag-shelter Moth and Processionary Caterpillar)
Processionary Caterpillar (Ochrogaster lunifer)
Ochrogaster lunifer (Processionary Caterpillar)
Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Opodiphthera eucalypti (Emperor Gum Moth)
Emperor Moth (Opodiphthera loranthi), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Opodiphthera loranthi (Emperor Moth)
Pararguda rufescens, William Bay WA © Len van der Waag
Pararguda rufescens
Parotis marginata, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Parotis marginata
Case Moth (family Psychidae), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Psychidae, family (Case Moths)
Bagworm/Case Moth (Family Psychidae), West Pymble NSW © Lauren Wade
Psychidae (Bagworm/Case Moth)
Plume Moth (family Pterophoridae), Alice Springs, NT
Pterophoridae (Plume Moth)
Sameodes cancellalis, Alice Springs NT
Sameodes cancellalis (Banded Pearl)
Sceliodes cordalis, Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sceliodes cordalis
Scopula innocens on Eucalypt leaf © Marc Newman
Scopula innocens
Plume Moth (Sphenarches anisodactylus), Perth WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Sphenarches anisodactylus
Oriental Leafworm Moth (Spodoptera litura), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Spodoptera litura (Oriental Leafworm Moth)
Synemon directa (Sun Moth), Mt Cooke WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon spp (Sun Moth)
Synemon directa (Sun Moth) feeding on Hakea ruscifolia, Mt Cooke WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon directa (Sun Moth)
Synemon catocaloides (Sun Moth), Buntine Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon catocaloides (Sun Moth)
Synemon jcaria (Sun Moth), Wyening WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon jcaria (Sun Moth)
Synemon obscurella, Ballidu Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Synemon obscurella
Triangles (Trigonodes hyppasia), Brisbane QLD © Stefan Jones
Trigonodes hyppasia (Triangles)
Crotalaria Moths (Utetheisa lotrix), Southwest QLD © Dianne Bickers
Utetheisa (Rattlepod Moth)
Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides), Alice Springs Desert Park NT
Utetheisa pulchelloides (Heliotrope Moth)

With thanks to our many contributors, we also welcome your moth photos. Just send us an email or contact us through Ausemade Facebook, and let us know the location/region where the photograph of the moth was taken and the name to use for the copyright holder.

Footnote & References

  1. Moth, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moth (last visited Feb. 8, 2022)
  2. Families of Moths in Australia, by Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley, Coffs Harbour Butterfly House, http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/moths.html
  3. Australian Moths Online, CSIRO, https://moths.csiro.au/

MothsMoths Index Aedia arctipennis Agape chloropyga Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) Agrotis munda Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth) Austrocaligula engaea (Mistletoe Emperor Moth) Calicotis crucifera Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Comocrus behri (Mistletoe Moth) Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth) Donuca spectabilis (White-spotted Owl-Moth) Diatenes gerula Endoxyla cinereus (Carpenter Moth) Eudesmeola lawsoni Four-spotted Cup Moth (Doratifera quadriguttata) 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) Pararguda rufescens Plume Moth Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Spodoptera litura Trigonodes hyppasia Utetheisa (Rattlepod Moth)

ButterfliesButterflies Index Acraea andromacha Caper White Butterfly Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly Common Eggfly Butterfly Meadow Argus Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly Pieridae Two-spotted Line Blue (Nacaduba biocellata) Yellow Palm Dart

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub