MothsMoths Index Aedia arctipennis Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Australian Striped Hawk Moth Bag-shelter Moth (Ochrogaster lunifer) Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Convolvulus Hawk Moth Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) Four-spotted Cup Moth Green-blotched Moth (Cosmodes elegans) Leaf Case Moth Mistletoe Emperor Moth Mistletoe Moth (Comocrus behri) Plume Moth Rattlepod Moth (Utetheisa) Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Saunders’ Case Moth (Metura elongatus) White-spotted Owl-Moth

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.

Click on the following images to see information on the moths.

Aedia arctipennis - pictured on the Potato Vine (Ipomoea costata), Alice Springs, NT
Aedia arctipennis
Convolvulus Hawkmoth (Agrius convolvuli), Alice Springs, NT
Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawkmoth)
Agrius godarti (Godart’s Hawkmoth), Alice Springs NT
Agrius godarti (Godart’s Hawkmoth)
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)
Four-Spot Anthelid Moth (Anthela guenei), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid 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)
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)
White-spotted Owl-Moth (Donuca spectabilis)
Donuca spectabilis (White-spotted Owl-Moth)
Four-spotted Cup Moth (Doratifera quadriguttata)
Doratifera quadriguttata (Four-spotted Cup Moth)
Witchetty Grub Cossid Moth (Endoxyla leucomochla)
Endoxyla leucomochla (Cossid Moth)
Lawson's Night Moth / Owlet Moth (Eudesmeola lawsoni), Alice Springs NT
Eudesmeola lawsoni (Owlet Moth)
Genduara punctigera (Crexa Moth), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Crexa Moth (Genduara punctigera)
Australian Fruitworm (Helicoverpa punctigera), Alice Springs NT
Helicoverpa punctigera (Australian Fruitworm)
Hairy Antlion (Heoclisis fundata, family Myrmeleontidae), Alice Springs NT
Heoclisis fundata (Hairy Antlion)
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)
Mocis alterna (Bean Looper Moth), Alice Springs NT
Mocis alterna (Bean Looper Moth)
Bag-shelter Moth (Ochrogaster lunifer), Alice Springs NT
Ochrogaster lunifer (Bag-shelter Moth and 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)
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)
Crotalaria Moths (Utetheisa lotrix), Southwest QLD © Dianne Bickers
Utetheisa (Rattlepod Moth)
Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides), Alice Springs Desert Park NT
Utetheisa pulchelloides (Heliotrope Moth)

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 Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Australian Striped Hawk Moth Bag-shelter Moth (Ochrogaster lunifer) Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Convolvulus Hawk Moth Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) Four-spotted Cup Moth Green-blotched Moth (Cosmodes elegans) Leaf Case Moth Mistletoe Emperor Moth Mistletoe Moth (Comocrus behri) Plume Moth Rattlepod Moth (Utetheisa) Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Saunders’ Case Moth (Metura elongatus) White-spotted Owl-Moth

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

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