List of moths of Australia (Drepanidae) facts for kids
Moths are amazing insects that fly mostly at night. They are related to butterflies and belong to a huge group called Lepidoptera. This article is about a special group of moths found in Australia. They belong to a family called Drepanidae. You might know them as "hook-tip moths" because some of them have a cool hook shape at the tip of their wings!
This list helps us keep track of all the different kinds of Drepanidae moths that live in Australia. It's also part of a bigger list of all the moths found across the country.
Meet the Drepaninae Moths
The Drepaninae are a big group within the Drepanidae family. Many of these moths have unique wing shapes. Some have those famous "hook-tips" on their wings. They can be found in different parts of Australia.
Here are some of the Drepaninae moths found in Australia:
- Astatochroa fuscimargo (Warren, 1896)
- Cyclura lechriodes (Turner, 1926)
- Oreta jaspidea (Warren, 1896)
- Tridrepana lunulata (Butler, 1887)
Sometimes, scientists find a new moth but aren't sure which exact group (genus) it fits into yet. This moth below is a Drepaninae, but it's still waiting for its permanent genus home:
- Oreta miltodes Lower, 1903
Other Australian Drepanidae Moths
There are also some Drepanidae moths that scientists haven't placed into a specific subfamily yet. This means they are still being studied to figure out their closest relatives. They are just as important to Australia's amazing insect life!
Here are some of these moths:
- Hypsidia australica (Sick, 1938)
- Hypsidia erythropsalis Rothschild, 1896
- Hypsidia grisea Scoble & E.D. Edwards, 1988
- Hypsidia microspila (Turner, 1942)
- Hypsidia niphosema (Lower, 1908)
- Hypsidia robinsoni Hacobian, 1986
