Australian moths represent between 20,000 and 30,000 different types of moths.[1] In comparison, there are only 400 species of Australian butterflies. The moths (mostly nocturnal) and butterflies (mostly diurnal) together make up the taxonomic order Lepidoptera. Scientifically, these moths are organised into about 80 families,[2] but the status of some is controversial and several recent changes have been suggested.[1]
This is a list of moth species which have been recorded in Australia. The list covers the continent of Australia and Tasmania and includes islands close to the mainland.
This page provides a link to detailed lists of these moths by family. If a family is endemic to Australia, the link redirects to a description of the family itself.
The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other families of the Noctuoidea. It was considered the largest family in Lepidoptera for a long time, but after regrouping Lymantriinae, Catocalinae and Calpinae within the family Erebidae, the latter holds this title now. Currently, Noctuidae is the second largest family in Noctuoidea, with about 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. However, this classification is still contingent, as more changes continue to appear between Noctuidae and Erebidae.
The Agonoxeninae are a subfamily of moths.
The Elachistidae are a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Some authors lump about 3,300 species in eight subfamilies here, but this arrangement almost certainly results in a massively paraphyletic and completely unnatural assemblage, united merely by symplesiomorphies retained from the first gelechioid moths.
The Gelechiidae are a family of moths commonly referred to as twirler moths or gelechiid moths. They are the namesake family of the huge and little-studied superfamily Gelechioidea, and the family's taxonomy has been subject to considerable dispute. These are generally very small moths with narrow, fringed wings. The larvae of most species feed internally on various parts of their host plants, sometimes causing galls. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) is a host plant common to many species of the family, particularly of the genus Chionodes, which as a result is more diverse in North America than usual for Gelechioidea.
Gelechioidea is the superfamily of moths that contains the case-bearers, twirler moths, and relatives, also simply called curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths. It is a large and poorly understood '"micromoth" superfamily, constituting one of the basal lineages of the Ditrysia.
Crossophora is a genus of gelechioid moths from eastern Australia. It belongs to the family Oecophoridae, and therein to subfamily Oecophorinae. The genus was described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. As regards described species, it is monotypic. But at least one undescribed species is known to exist:
Epermeniidae or the fringe-tufted moths is a family of insects in the lepidopteran order with about 14 genera. Previously they have been divided in two subfamilies Epermeniinae and Ochromolopinae but this is no longer maintained since the last group is probably hierarchically nested within the first. They are presently placed in their own superfamily but have previously been placed among the Yponomeutoidea or Copromorphoidea with which they share some features. Their systematic placement among the apoditrysian group "Obtectomera" is however uncertain. They show some morphological similarities to the "plume moths", for example the wing fringe has similar groups of scales. There are also some similarities to Schreckensteinioidea, for example spiny legs and at least in some species an open-network cocoon. The genus Thambotricha from New Zealand may be the sister group of all other extant members. The most important genera are Epermenia, Ochromolopis and Gnathifera. The group has been extensively revised and catalogued by Dr Reinhard Gaedike.
The Plutellidae are a family of moths commonly known as the diamondback moths, named after the diamondback moth of European origin. Some authors consider this family to be a subfamily of the Yponomeutidae, but it is usually considered to be a family in its own right, and have three subfamilies, Plutellinae, Praydinae, and Scythropiinae.
Araeopteron is a genus of moths of the family Erebidae. The genus was erected by George Hampson in 1893.
Tolpia is a genus of moths of the family Erebidae erected by Francis Walker in 1863. The genus used to be included in the family Noctuidae.
The Depressariinae – sometimes spelled "Depressiinae" in error – are a subfamily of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Like their relatives therein, their exact relationships are not yet very well resolved. It has been considered part of family Elachistidae sensu lato or included in an expanded Oecophoridae. In modern classifications they are treated as the distinct gelechioid family Depressariidae.
Borkhausenia is a genus of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae) described by Jacob Hübner in 1825. Among these, it belongs to subfamily Oecophorinae, wherein it is probably closely related to Hofmannophila. In the past, several other Oecophoridae have been included in Borkhausenia, as well as a few even more distant members of the superfamily Gelechioidea. Metalampra was originally described as a subgenus of Borkhausenia. Telechrysis has also been included here as a subgenus by some, while other authors have considered it a separate genus in the Oecophorinae or – if these are also considered distinct – the Amphisbatinae.
The Autostichinae are a subfamily of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Like their relatives therein, their exact relationships are not yet very well resolved. The present lineage was often included in the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae), but alternatively it is united with the Symmocidae sensu stricto to form an expanded family Autostichidae.
The Micronoctuini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae that includes about 400 described species. Typical species in the tribe have bifine hindwing venation and are smaller than those in other noctuoid moths. Micronoctua karsholti is the smallest of all species in the superfamily Noctuoidea.
Idioglossa is a genus of moths of the family Batrachedridae.
Xyloryctidae is a family of moths contained within the superfamily Gelechioidea described by Edward Meyrick in 1890. Most genera are found in the Indo-Australian region. While many of these moths are tiny, some members of the family grow to a wingspan of up to 66 mm, making them giants among the micromoths.
Idioglossa metallochrysa is a very small species of golden-metallic coloured moth of the family Batrachedridae living in a subtropical highland climate, at least in Australia, and of which the caterpillars feed on the plant Cheilocostus speciosus, at least in Indonesia.
Antipterna lithophanes is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae, first described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 as Ocystola lithophanes. The lectotype for Ocystola lithophanes was collected at Deloraine, Tasmania. Holotypes for Alfred Jefferis Turner's synonyms were collected from Queensland and New South Wales.
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