Moth (Lepidoptera) field guide

Useful references:

• CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) - Australian Moths Online
• Don Herbison-Evans web pages:
  • Moths of Australia
  • Australian caterpillars and their butterflies and moths

In the notes provided about individual species, semi-technical terms are sometimes used.  They are briely explained below.

Labial palpi.  These are paired appendages extending from the lower part of the head, on either side of the proboscis.  They provide important information about the family of the moth.

Parts of a moth’s wing:

Costa:  The leading edge of the wing

Inner margin:  The trailing edge of the wing

Termen:  The outer margin of the wing, connecting the costa to the inner margin

Apex:  The leading tip of the wing, where the costa and termen meet

Tornus:   The trailing corner of the wing, where the termen and inner margin meet

Cilia.  Long hairy scales along an edge of the wing

Rhynchopsota delogramma (A Geometer moth (Ennominae))

Rupicolana orthias (A tortrix or leafroller moth)

Salma cinerascens (A Pyralid moth)

Salma marmorea (A Pyralid moth)

Sandava xylistis (Rusty Snout)

Underside

Scatochresis episema (A scat moth)

Scatochresis sp1 (dung bug1)

Sceliodes cordalis (Eggfruit Caterpillar, Poroporo Fruit Borer)

Scieropepla polyxesta (Xyloryctidae)

Scieropepla reversella (A Gelechioid moth (Xyloryctidae))

Scioglyptis lyciaria (White-patch Bark Moth)

Underside

Scirpophaga (genus) (A Crambid moth)

Scoparia spelaea (a Crambid moth)

Scopula optivata (Varied Wave)

Scopula perlata (Cream Wave)

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth)

Female

Reddish hindwings

Sinpunctiptilia emissalis (Speedwell Pterror)

Sorama bicolor (Two-coloured Notodontid)

Spectrotrota fimbrialis (A Pyralid moth)

Female

Male

Sphyrelata amotella (A Concealer moth)

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