List of moths of Australia (Notodontidae) facts for kids

Moths are fascinating insects, often seen flying around at night. This article is about a special group of moths found in Australia. They belong to a family called Notodontidae. This family is part of a larger group of moths found across Australia.

What are Notodontidae Moths?

Notodontidae moths are also known as "prominent moths." This name comes from the way many of them look. They often have tufts of scales on their wings or bodies. These tufts make them look "prominent." Most of these moths are medium to large in size. They usually have dull colors like browns, grays, and greens. These colors help them blend in with tree bark or leaves. This is a great way to hide from predators.

Life Cycle of a Prominent Moth

Like all moths, Notodontidae moths go through a full life cycle. It starts with an egg. The egg hatches into a larva, which is a caterpillar.

• Caterpillars: Notodontidae caterpillars can look very unusual. Some have strange shapes or bumps. Others have bright colors to warn predators. Many of them feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs. They grow by eating a lot and shedding their skin. This process is called molting.
• Pupae: After growing enough, the caterpillar turns into a pupa. This is a resting stage. The pupa often hides in the soil or in a cocoon. Inside the pupa, the caterpillar changes into an adult moth.
• Adult Moths: When the adult moth is ready, it breaks out of the pupal case. Adult moths usually live for a short time. Their main job is to find a mate and lay eggs. Many adult Notodontidae moths do not feed. They rely on the energy stored from their caterpillar stage.

Different Kinds of Notodontidae Moths

The Notodontidae family is very diverse. It is split into smaller groups called subfamilies. In Australia, we find moths from several of these subfamilies. Here are some of them:

Notodontinae

This is a large group within the Notodontidae family. Moths in this subfamily often have a "prominent" tuft of scales on the inner edge of their forewings. This tuft sticks out when the moth is resting. Many species in this group are active at night. They are attracted to lights.

• Allata indistincta (Rothschild, 1917)
• Antimima corystes Turner, 1931
• Antimima cryptica Turner, 1917
• Antithemerastis acrobela (Turner, 1922)
• Archigargetta amydra (Turner, 1903)
• Cascera bella Bethune-Baker, 1904
• Cascera muscosa Walker, 1865
• Cerura australis Scott, 1864
• Cerura multipunctata Bethune-Baker, 1904
• Commonia hesychima (Turner, 1922)
• Destolmia lineata Walker, 1855
• Ecnomodes sagittaria (T.P. Lucas, 1900)
• Gallaba basinipha Turner, 1931
• Gallaba duplicata Walker, 1865
• Gallaba dysthyma Turner, 1931
• Gallaba eugraphes Turner, 1922
• Gallaba ochropepla Turner, 1903
• Gallaba subviridis Turner, 1941
• Gargettiana punctatissima (Bethune-Baker, 1916)
• Hobartina amblyiodes (Turner, 1931)
• Hobartina eusciera (Turner, 1931)
• Hylaeora capucina R. Felder, 1874
• Hylaeora caustopis Tepper, 1890
• Hylaeora dilucida R. Felder, 1874
• Hylaeora eucalypti Doubleday, 1849
• Lasioceros aroa Bethune-Baker, 1904
• Neola semiaurata Walker, 1855
• Neostauropus viridissimus (Bethune-Baker, 1904)
• Netria viridescens Walker, 1855
• Omichlis hadromeres Turner, 1922
• Omichlis hampsoni Bethune-Baker, 1904
• Ortholomia moluccana C. Felder, 1861
• Paradestolmia nigrolinea (T.P. Lucas, 1895)
• Phalera amboinae C. Felder, 1861
• Pheraspis mesotypa Turner, 1903
• Pheraspis polioxutha Turner, 1903
• Pheraspis rectilinea Turner, 1941
• Pheraspis spodea Turner, 1903
• Pheraspis symmetra Turner, 1917
• Pheressaces cycnoptera (Lower, 1894)
• Polychoa glauca (Turner, 1936)
• Polychoa styphlopis Turner, 1906
• Porsica acarodes (Turner, 1903)
• Psalidostetha banksiae (Lewin, 1805)
• Scythrophanes stenoptera Turner, 1926
• Sorama bicolor Walker, 1855
• Syntypistis chloropasta Turner, 1907
• Syntypistis opaca Turner, 1922
• Syntypistis viridigriseus (Rothschild, 1917)
• Teleclita dryinopa (Dodd, 1902)
• Timoraca meeki (Rothschild, 1917)

Pygaerinae

This subfamily is smaller. It includes moths that might look a bit different from typical prominents. They still share key features that place them in the Notodontidae family.

• Clostera rubida (H. Druce, 1901)

Thaumetopoeinae

Moths in this subfamily are sometimes called "processionary moths." This is because their caterpillars often move in long, nose-to-tail lines. They can be found in groups. Some caterpillars in this group have hairs that can cause skin irritation. It's best not to touch them.

• Aglaosoma periblepta (Turner, 1922)
• Aglaosoma variegata (Walker, 1855)
• Axiocleta perisema Turner, 1911
• Cynosarga ornata Walker, 1865
• Epicoma anisozyga Turner, 1922
• Epicoma argentata (Walker, 1865)
• Epicoma argentosa (T.P. Lucas, 1890)
• Epicoma asbolina Turner, 1902
• Epicoma barnardi (T.P. Lucas, 1890)
• Epicoma barytima Turner, 1917
• Epicoma chrysosema Turner, 1922
• Epicoma contristis Hübner, 1823
• Epicoma derbyana Strand, 1929
• Epicoma dispar Turner, 1922
• Epicoma melanospila (Wallengren, 1860)
• Epicoma melanosticta (Donovan, 1805)
• Epicoma phoenura Turner, 1922
• Epicoma pontificalis Rosenstock, 1885
• Epicoma protrahens (T.P. Lucas, 1890)
• Epicoma signata (Walker, 1855)
• Epicoma tristis (Donovan, 1805)
• Epicoma zelotes Turner, 1902
• Mesodrepta harpotoma Turner, 1924
• Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Schäffer, 1855
• Tanystola isabella (White, 1841)
• Tanystola ochrogutta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1856)
• Trichiocercus mesomelas (Walker, 1855)
• Trichiocercus sparshalli (Curtis, 1830)