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

Heliothinae (subfamily) (Budworm)

Hellula undalis (Cabbage Webworm)

Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Sod Webworm)

Hypena gonospilalis (Hypeninae)

Limnaecia phragmitella (Shy Cosmet moth)

Mocis frugalis (Sugarcane Looper (Erebinae))

Negeta contrariata (Chloephorinae)

Ophiusa discriminans

Opogona omoscopa (Detritus Moth)

Pelagodes veraria (A Geometer moth (Geometrinae))

Pericyma cruegeri (Poinciana Looper, Erebinae)

Scirpophaga innotata (White Rice Stem Borer)

Scirpophaga praelata (Rush Borer)

Sphenarches anisodactylus (Geranium Plume Moth)

Stenoptilia zophodactylus (Dowdy Plume Moth)

Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Soybean Looper)

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