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Australian Insects

Katydids
The Diurnal Predatory Katydid is a fairly small green cricket with large eyes and a dark stripe down the back. The antennae are long and thin. Females have a short black ovispoitor. It is found on...
Diurnal Predatory Katydid
(Austrophlugis malidupa)
2 images 		This Common Garden Katydid resembles the Gum Leaf Katydid but is smaller. They have bright pink and yellow markings on the abdomen that is hidden by the wings. The males make a sound to attract...
Common Garden Katydid
(Caedicia simplex)
2 images 		Lesson's Snout-nose is a fairly large green katydid with pointed head. It makes an incredibly loud high-pitched buzzing sound that can be heard from a long way off.
Lesson's Snout-nose
(Pseudorhyncus Lessonii)
1 image 		An immature katydid from the Tettigoniidae family with purple legs and antennae. Not sure what species this is.
Katydid
(Tettigoniidae family )
3 images
The Gum Leaf Katydid resembles a gum leaf, with the wings having the colour and vein pattern of a leaf. They are well camouflaged in plants with similar leaf shape and colour. Some adults have brown...
Gum Leaf Katydid
(Torbia viridissima)
1 image

Pyrgomorphs
The Vegetable Grasshopper is bright green . They are common in Brisbane and easily found on . They are small and green in colour with purple tinge on antennae and pink wash on abdomen. They are slow...
Vegetable Grasshopper
(Atractomorpha sp)
4 images

True Crickets
A small cricket from the Gryllidae family. Not sure what species this is.
Cricket
(Gryllidae family )
1 image 		The Silent Leaf-runner is a small cricket. Adult has dark brown body with lighter legs. Nymph is pale colour. They are predatory crickets
Silent Leaf-runner
(Metioche vittaticollis)
1 image 		The Black Field Cricket is jet black. During the day, it hides in vegetation or cracks in the soil and comes out at night to feed, The males sings at night making a sound by rubbing his wings...
Black Field Cricket
(Teleogryllus commodus)
1 image

Typical Grasshoppers
The adult Hedge Grasshopper is a large pale brown grasshopper. The nymphs start off green, and sometimes have brown and orange patterns, turning brown before the final moult. Adults hibernate over...
Hedge Grasshopper
(Valanga irregularis)
5 images

Earwigs
This earwig has gold coloured wing covers and a purplish brown body and head. The young are similar to adults but paler. The long forceps (pincers) are used for defense and curve upwards when the...
Earwig
(Elaunon bipartitus)
2 images 		A plain brown coloured earwig found under garden mulch. It has long antennae with many segments, and forceps (pincers) at the end of the abdomen. The forceps are used for defense and are curved...
Earwig
(Labiduridae family )
1 image

Termites
Termites live in colonies. Most termites live inside timber or in underground nests. My guess is that the species shown is from the Termitidae family. It has a raised bump like a third eye on its...
Termite
(Termitidae family )
2 images

Aphids
The adult aphids are greenish grey. The new born nymphs start of pale green and become more grey as they moult. I'm not sure what species this is - let me know if you can identify it.
Aphid
(Aphis sp)
2 images 		Milkweed aphids are a bright orange colour with black legs and two black tubes on the abdomen. Aphids are soft-bodied with sucking mouthparts. When they start to get overcrowded or run out of food,...
Milkweed Aphid
(Aphis nerii)
4 images 		Rose aphids are a pinkish brown colour. Wingless females are often seen in large number on stems and buds of roses. Aphids are soft-bodied with sucking mouthparts. They have a pair of tubes on the...
Rose Aphid
(Macrosiphum rosae)
2 images

Assassin Bugs
The Assassin Bug is a medium to large sized bug with a large curved mouth part for piercing and sucking. It has long legs. Adult bugs are brown in colour with transparent wings. Nymphs are black...
Assassin Bug
(Pristhesancus plagipennis)
5 images

Cicadas
The Lesser Bottle Cicada is green with transparent wings with green veins. Males have large hollow abdomen. Females are smaller with tapered abdomen. The males have a sound producing organ that makes...
Lesser Bottle Cicada
(Chlorocysta vitripennis)
3 images

Damsel Bugs
Damsel Bugs resemble small Assassin Bugs, but have a much slimmer body shape. They are usually brown or tan colour. The legs are relatively long and the front pair is enlarged to capture prey. The...
Damsel Bug
(Nabidae family sp1)
4 images 		This Damsel Bug is a drab brown colour. Damsel bugs use their piercing and sucking
Damsel Bug
(Nabidae family sp2)
2 images

Flatid Planthoppers
The Mango Planthopper is creamy white with a small pink spot on centre of each wing. They have a triangular shape with a right angled corner. They are found on a range of plants, and are a pest in...
Mango Planthopper
(Colgaroides acuminata)
1 image 		This planthopper is white with pale pink margin round the wings, pink legs and faint pink dot in the centre of the wing. Is this C. acuminata or a different species? One of the photos shows two...
Planthopper
(Colgaroides sp)
2 images 		The Common Green Planthopper is a bright green triangular-shaped bug with reddish eyes. The wings are held over the body like a roof. The wings have a veined pattern a paler green spots between the...
Common Green Planthopper
(Siphanta hebes)
1 image

Lantern flies
Lantern Flies are a kind of leafhopper. This strange looking Lantern Fly has a large protrusion from the head resembling a snout, and large bulbous eyes. Although they are called Lantern Flies, they...
Lantern Fly
(Fulgoridae family )
1 image

Leafhoppers
Flat-head Leafhopper have flattened triangular-shaped head. Like other species of the Cicadllidae family it has strongly spiked rear legs. This bright green species was seen around house lights at...
Flat-head Leafhopper
(Cicadllidae family sp1)
2 images 		This small Leafhopper was found around the house lights at night. It is emerald green with dark greenish-black markings. They look a bit like miniature cicadas.
Green Leafhopper
(Cicadllidae family sp2)
1 image 		These Leafhoppers are so tiny that they can come through the mesh of the fly screen of windows. They are attracted to house lights in large numbers on warm summer nights, and many of them can com...
Leafhopper
(Cicadllidae family sp3)
2 images 		Small Leafhoppers that were photographed at night near house light. I've no idea what species they are.
Leafhopper
(Cicadllidae family spp)
2 images
This page shows different species of Leafhopper larvae. I've no idea what species they are. These larvae are all wingless.
Leafhopper larvae
(Cicadllidae family spp2)
3 images

Mealy Bugs
Mealybugs excrete a waxy substance. They are found on various species of plants and can be a pest. I'm not sure what species this is - it could be Cottony Cushion Scale.
Mealybug
(Margarodidae family )
1 image

Plautia
Stink bugs have rounded bodies and are fairly flat. They can produce a foul smelling liquid when threatened - hence their common name. Their antennae have five sections.
Stink Bug
(Pentatomidae family )
1 image

Scale Insects, Soft Scales, Wax Scales

Rose Scale is a hard scale. The adult females are white and flat. The males have two forms - sedentary males are long and flat with ribbed texture and are white; winged males are slightly smaller and...
Rose scale
(Aulacaspis rosae)
2 images

Seed Bugs, Milkweed Bugs, Chinch Bugs
The Lygaeidae family has a large number of species. They are mostly brown or red in colour. They have two compound eyes and two simple eyes (ocelli).
unknown
(Lygaeidae family sp1)
2 images 		These bugs are orange-red with black wings, black legs and black antennae. The eyes are prominent. Males and females are similar. Nymphs are orange red with black head and thorax.
unknown
(Lygaeidae family sp2)
3 images 		The bug is probably a member of the Lygaeidae family, but I have no idea what genus or species it is. If you have any idea, let me know.
unknown
(Lygaeidae family sp3)
2 images 		These bugs are orange red with bold black markings. The back has V-shaped markings. The antennae and legs are black.
Milkweed Bug
(Spilostethus sp)
3 images

Shield Backed Bugs
The Hibiscus Harlequin Bug is brightly coloured bug with metallic sheen. The body is shield shaped. Males and females are different colours - females are mostly orange and males are blue and red.
Hibiscus Harlequin Bug
(Tectocoris diophthalmus)
1 image

Spittlebugs
This Spittlebug is brown with a head shaped like a horn. It produces a mass of foam bubbles like spittle on the stem of a plant. The insect hides in the foam to give it protection from predators.
Spittlebug
(Philagra parva)
2 images

Stink Bugs
Stink bugs have rounded bodies and are fairly flat. They can produce a foul smelling liquid when threatened - hence their common name. Their antennae have five sections.
Stink Bug
(Pentatomidae family )
1 image 		The Gum Tree Shield Bug has a brown, grey and black pattern. It is known as a stink bug as it produces a foul smelling liquid. The antenna are yellow with dark end. The protective back shield has a...
Gum Tree Shield Bug
(Poecilometis ellipticus)
3 images

Tessaratomid Bugs
Bronze Orange Bugs are large bugs with broad thick bodies. They are a brownish maroon colour with triangular shield shaped plate on the back. The head looks disproportionately small with orange...
Bronze Orange Bug
(Musgraveia sulciventris)
2 images

Toad Bugs
Toad Bugs are short stocky bugs with protruding eyes. They are usually dark coloured with a warty appearance and move with waddling steps and short hops. The forelegs are modified into a claw-like...
Toad Bug
(Nerthra sp)
1 image

Thrips
Thrips are small insects with a long thin body. They are often black in colour. Their mouth parts are designed for rasping and sucking. Many species are pests of garden and agricultural plants
Thrip
(Phlaeothripidae family )
2 images 		This thrip was found on underside of Syzygium pot plant. The adult is black with white legs and very slender pale wings. The nymphs are yellowish white and wingless initially. Infested leaves lose...
Thrip
(Thripidae family )
2 images

Antlions
Antlions are a family of lacewings with short antennae that thicken towards the tips. They have two pairs of long thin transparent wings that are held along the body.
Antlion
(Myrmeleontidae family )
5 images

Green Lacewings
Green Lacewings have long thin antennae, and two pairs of transparent wings with more vertical veins than horizontal veins. The body colour is green and eyes are a metallic golden colour. They are...
Green Lacewing
(Chrysopidae family )
1 image

Clerid Beetles
Clerid beetles have elongated thorax, rounded abdomen and large eyes. They have strong legs. Some species are brightly coloured and have metallic appearance. Most species are hairy
Clerid beetle
(Cleridae family )
2 images

Click Beetles
Click Beetles are a long thin oval shape. The body is dark brown with lined pattern along the back. The antennae are serrated. When threatened r overturned, Click Beetles can flick themselves into...
Click Beetle
(Elateridae family )
3 images

Ladybirds
The Yellow Shouldered Ladybird is a small black beetle with a yellow patch on each side of the thorax. Some also have yellow on the head. The wings are covered with fine hairs. The pupae are oval...
Yellow Shouldered Ladybird
(Apolinus lividigaster)
6 images 		The Transverse ladybirds is bright orange-red in colour with black markings on their back. There is a dark strip down the centre where the wings meet, and prominent V-shaped markings on each side....
Transverse Ladybird
(Coccinella transversalis)
4 images 		The Variable Ladybird is a small beetle with four spots on each wing. They are orange or orange-yellow. Usually the spots are quite large blotches, but sometimes the spots are quite small. They are...
Variable Ladybird
(Coelophora inaequalis 1)
4 images 		Yet another colour and pattern variation of the Variable Ladybird. This ladybird is orange with three black stripes along the length of the body - one down each wing cover and one down the centre...
Variable Ladybird narrow striped form
(Coelophora inaequalis 3)
3 images
Variable Ladybirds usually have four wing spots, but some forms have two black bars on the wings. They also have a black stripe along back where wing covers meet.
Variable Ladybird striped form
(Coelophora inaequalis 2)
2 images 		The adults are greenish black with reddish brown head and thorax, and the rear end of the abdomen is also reddish brown. The body is covered in short fine hairs. The larvae are white and resemble the...
Mealybug Ladybird
(Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)
2 images 		The Common Spotted Ladybird is a medium sized orange ladybird. It has 23 large black spots on the wing covers. The larvae is black when they hatch and go through four stages of development (instars)...
Common Spotted Ladybird
(Harmonia conformis)
1 image 		The Tortoise-shelled Ladybird is an average sized yellow ladybird with stripes along and across the body in a net pattern. It has two black stripes running from the eyes to the wing covers. The...
Tortoise-shelled Ladybird
(Harmonia testudinaria)
3 images
Most ladybirds are beneficial to the garden, but Twenty Eight Spot Ladybirds can be leaf eating pests. They are orange with 13 black spots on each wing cover. ( That only makes 26 spots - so where...
Twenty Eight Spot Ladybird
(Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata)
2 images 		The Fungus-eating Ladybird is bright yellow with black markings. It is active during the day and fast moving. It drops to the ground or takes flight readily when disturbed. The larvae are creamy...
Fungus-eating Ladybird
(Illeis galbula)
2 images 		Striped Ladybirds are medium sized orange ladybirds with three black stripes on their back. They can be found on tall grasses and weeds. The larva are dull brown with white spots, and black head and...
Striped Ladybird
(Micraspis frenata)
2 images

Leaf Beetles
Gum Leaf Beetles feed on the leaves of Eucalyptus trees. They are brown with yellow markings and a similar domed shape to ladybirds.
Gum Leaf Beetle
(Paropsis sp)
1 image

Longicorn Beetles
Longicorn Beetles are large beetles with extremely long antenna that come from the edges of their eyes. The have large compound eyes with notches where the antenna emerge, and strong mandibles for...
Longicorn Beetle
(Cerambycidae family )
4 images

Lycid Beetles
Lycid Beetles have a soft flattened body. They are usually brick red and black in colour,. The wing covers have prominent ridges along their length. The antennae are serrated and quite broad. Their...
Lycid Beetle
(Lycidae family )
4 images

Rove Beetles
Rove beetles are long thin beetles. Most species have very small elytra (wing covers) that cover only a small part of the abdomen. The abdominal segments are flexible. Many species live in the soil...
Rove Beetle
(Staphylinidae family )
2 images

Scarab Beetles
Brown beetle with creamy markings.
Brown Flower Beetle
(Glycyphana stolata)
1 image 		Nectar Scarabs are small brown and black beetles that are active during the day. They are a similar colour to Lycid beetles, but are recognised by their stocky scarab beetle shape. Nectar Scarabs...
Nectar Scarab
(Phyllotocus apicalis)
1 image 		Brown beetle with light yellow brown scribbled markings.
Mango Flower Beetle
(Protaetia fusca)
1 image 		The Brown Cockchafer is a stocky reddish-brown beetle with a hairy body. The antennae are short and fan-shaped. It is often found flying towards house lights in late spring and summer.
Brown Cockchafer
(Rhopaea magnicornis)
2 images
Scarab Beetles have stocky bodies, and some species are brightly coloured. They have strong legs for digging and prominent fan-shaped antennae. Some species are night flying and are often attracted...
Scarab Beetles
(Scarabaeidea family )
3 images

Soldier Beetles
Soldier Beetles are similar in appearance to Lycid Beetles and have a soft flattened body. They are usually coloured in combinations of black, brown and yellow. Some species have a black and yellow...
Soldier Beetle
(Cantharidae family )
2 images

Wedge-shaped Beetles
The Humped-backed Beetle shown here is dark purplish brown with lighter brown markings that get denser towards the head and rear. It appear to have its head tucked in under the thorax when at rest.
Humped-backed Beetle
(Rhipiphoridae family sp2)
2 images 		This beetle has unusual branched antennae that look a bit like moose antlers. I found this one near our outdoor light. At first I thought it was a click beetle until I got a bit closer and saw these...
unknown
(Rhipiphoridae family sp1)
2 images

Blowflies
This Blowfly has a bright orange yellow head and brilliant metallic blue body with black cross bands on abdomen. It looks similar to the Snail Parasite Blowfly but does not have the large white...
Blowfly
(Amenia unknown species)
2 images 		This Snail Parasite Blowfly has a bright orange yellow head with brownish eyes. The body is metallic green and blue with white spots. I'm not sure how widely used the common name is.
Snail Parasite Blowfly
(Amenia imperialis)
3 images 		Blowflies have metallic coloured body. Not sure what species these are.
Blowfly
(Calliphoridae family )
2 images 		This blowfly is greyish with brown patterned abdomen. They have prominent bristles on the thorax and abdomen.
Blowfly
(Metallea sp)
1 image
The head and thorax of this blowfly are blue mottled with black. The abdomen is banded black and creamy colour, with some mottling. The mouthparts are quite prominent.
Blowfly
(Rhiniinae subfamily )
1 image

Bush Flies
This species of Dichaetomyia has reddish brown body and red eyes. The body is stocky with strong bristles. These flies are related to the common house fly.
Bush Fly
(Dichaetomyia sp)
1 image

Crane Flies
Crane Flies have slender bodies and very long legs. The wings are long and narrow. They look like huge Mosquitoes but fortunately they do not bite - in fact adult Crane Flies do not feed at all.
Crane Fly
(Tipulidae family )
2 images

Dolichopodid Flies
Long Legged Flies have a metallic green appearance. The abdomen is green and black stripes and wings have black bands. As their common name suggests, they have long legs.
Long Legged Fly
(Austrosciapus connexus)
1 image

Flesh Flies
Grey-Striped Fly have black and grey stripes running down thorax from the head and do not have a metallic appearance. The eyes are orange red.
Grey-Striped Fly
(Sarcophaga aurifrons)
2 images

Fruit Flies
Fruit Flies are small to medium sized flies. This species has bright red eyes. When at rest, they often hold their wings outwards like paddles. This fly is larger than the Vinegar Flies which also...
Fruit Fly
(Tephritidae family )
1 image

Horse Flies, March Flies
March Flies (also known as Horse Flies) are large strongly built flies with large eyes - the male's eyes meet in the middle. The eyes often reflect iridescent colour patterns. The
March Fly
(Tabanidae family )
3 images

Hover Flies
This Ceriana species is banded black and orange like a wasp. The antennae appear to be joined at the bottom and branch out in a y-shape? They probably mimic wasps to deter predators.
Wasp-mimicking Hover Fly
(Ceriana sp)
1 image 		The Native Drone Fly is a brightly coloured hover fly with large strange spotted eyes. The body is black and orange striped. They have a hovering flight and make a droning noise like a bee, hence the...
Native Drone Fly
(Eristalinus punctulatus)
2 images 		The Common Hover Fly has black and yellow striped abdomen and looks a bit like a wasp. They are often seen hovering near flowers. They feed on nectar and help to pollinate the flowers. The larvae are...
Common Hover Fly
(Ischiodon scutellaris)
1 image

Lauxaniidae
This Homoneura species is a small fly with large red compound eyes. The body is orange brown with sparse long hairs. The legs are quite long and the wings are smoky coloured with dark spots. The...
no common name
(Homoneura sp.)
2 images

Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are well known flies with small wings. Most species are from the tropics, and anyone who has been to these parts will be familiar with the bites and the high-pitched whine of these pests....
Mosquito
(Culicidae family )
4 images

Robber Flies
Robber Flies are medium to large hunting flies with long strong legs used to catch prey on flight. They have large eyes, and distinct
Robber Fly
(Asilidae family )
1 image

Soldier Flies
The American Soldier Fly looks like a wasp with black body and dark wings. The eyes appear to have a pattern of blue and green markings. At rest it holds its wings folded on top of each other along...
American Soldier Fly
(Hermetia illucens)
3 images 		This Soldier Fly is brightly coloured with green thorax and yellow abdomen with bronze pattern down the back. The eyes are large and meet in the centre. It rests with wings folded on top of each...
Soldier Fly
(Odontomyia sp)
1 image

Tachinid flies
This fly has a metallic silver head and brown eyes. The body is a glossy metallic blue green, with bronze tinge towards end of abdomen.
Tachnid Fly
(Rutilia sp)
1 image

Vinegar Flies
Vinegar Flies are tiny flies that are attracted to fermenting fruit. These are the tiny flies that you see on the fruit in supermarkets and in your fruit bowl. This genus is used extensively in...
Vinegar Fly
(Drosophila sp)
1 image

Blues and Coppers
The Varied Dusky-blue butterfly is brownish above and pale greyish color underneath. The females have purplish blue markings on the upper wings. It usually has its wings closed when at rest showing...
Varied Dusky-blue
(Candalides hyacinthina)
1 image 		The Hairy Line-blue butterfly has long whitish hairs on the upper side of the wings. Males are a dusky blue color above and brownish underneath. Females have a white patch on the forewings above and...
Hairy Line-blue
(Erysichton lineata)
1 image 		The Zebra Blue Butterfly is a small brownish and blue-grey butterfly. The underside is a marbled brown and white pattern. They are quite small and look like moths from a distance, but up close you...
Zebra Blue Butterfly
(Leptotes plinius)
1 image 		The Cycad Blue is brown washed with blue above, and brown and cream below. The hindwings have brown black spots on edge nearest the tail. Females have bolder markings than males.
Cycad Blue Butterfly
(Theclinesthes onycha)
1 image

Crambid Moths
This Grass Moth has silky white wings with brown leading edge on forewings.
Grass moth
(Cydalima laticostalis)
1 image 		The adult Cucumber Moth has white translucent wings with broad dark brown borders. There is a tuft of brown hairs on the tip of the abdomen. The tuft on the end of the abdomen of the female is...
Cucumber Moth
(Diaphania indica)
2 images 		Eurrhyparodes bracteolalis is a small brown moth with yellow dots and blotches.
no common name
(Eurrhyparodes bracteolalis)
1 image 		The adult Bean Pod Borer moth has brown forewings with silvery white patches. The hindwings are mainly white with an irregular brown border. The caterpillars are pale yellow with a pale brown head.
Bean Pod Borer
(Maruca vitrata)
2 images
The adult Bean Leafroller moth is brown with yellow patches. It makes a shelter from a rolled up leaf, hence the common name.
Bean Leafroller
(Omiodes diemenalis)
2 images 		Parotis marginata is a brilliant green moth with prominent eyes and long thin antennae. It has a brownish fringe on rear margin of hindwing. It has a tuft of hairs at the end of the abdomen.
no common name
(Parotis marginata)
1 image 		The adult Beet Webworm moth is brown with two incomplete white stripes on each forewing, and a complete white stripe across each hindwing. The Caterpillar is brownish-green, with sparse white hairs,...
Beet Webworm
(Spoladea recurvalis)
2 images

Emperor Moths
This large emperor moth comes in various colour forms - they can be yellow, orange, pinkish-brown, grey or brick-red.
Emperor Moth
(Syntherata janetta)
3 images

Gelechiidae
Gelechiid moth are small with smooth scales and a narrow head. The palpi are upturned and sharp-pointed in a sickle shape.
no common name
(Gelechiidae family )
2 images

Hawk Moths
The adult Convolvulus Hawk-moth is grey with a light and dark pattern on the wings. The abdomen has pink patches on the side of each segment. They can hover in flight, and they have a long...
Convolvulus Hawk-moth
(Agrius convolvuli)
1 image 		The Privet Hawk Moth is a large grey moth with long narrow wings and a darker grey wavy pattern. The abdomen has a dark line along the back. Males can make a hissing sound by rubbing scales over...
Privet Hawk Moth
(Psilogramma menephron)
1 image

Herminiid Moths
The adult Simplicia caeneusalis moth is brown with a straight white line across the margin of each forewing. There is a curved white line along the margin of each hindwing. At rest it forms an...
no common name
(Simplicia caeneusalis)
1 image

Leafrollers, Bell Moths
Bell Moths are small moths in the Tortricidae family. This species is mainly brown with greyish markings near the tail. The hind wings are curved giving a corrugated appearance.
Bell Moth
(Tortricidae family )
2 images

Looper
The Bizarre Looper Moth males and females are very different. Males are green, with a white pattern. Females are translucent green with brown borders. The Bizarre Looper gets its name from the...
Bizarre Looper Moth
(Anisozyga pieroides)
2 images 		Does this moth belong to the Chlorocoma genus or the Prascinocyma genus? It is bright emerald green. It holds its antennae at 180 degrees and tucked under the forewings. It has two spots like eyes at...
Emerald Moth
(Chlorocoma sp)
1 image 		Cleora displicata is a greyish brown moth with pattern of fine black wavy lines. The abdomen is grey with thin black bars. It has a black spot under each wing.
no common name
(Cleora displicata)
1 image 		Unknown species of Cleora. Moths in the genus Cleora are mostly patterned in browns, creams and blacks
no common name
(Cleora sp.1)
2 images
Unknown species of Cleora. Moths in the genus Cleora are mostly patterned in browns, creams and blacks
no common name
(Cleora sp.2)
1 image 		Cleora tenebrata is a intricately patterned moth with wavy cream, tan, brown, grey and white markings.
no common name
(Cleora tenebrata)
2 images 		The adult Comostola laesaria moth is green with reddish brown spots on each wing. The four largest spots (one on each wing) look like they have staples through them. The wings have a yellowish...
no common name
(Comostola laesaria)
1 image 		This Emerald moth is green with a reddish-brown fringes. There is a small reddish dot on each hindwing, and a fainter dot on each forewing.
Emerald Moth
(Eucrostes disparata)
1 image
Eumelea rosalia is a yellow or orange moth with darker speckles. There are two darker bands across each wing. When the wings are spread, these bands make a pattern like the rings of a section of sawn...
no common name
(Eumelea rosalia)
1 image 		Loopers are the caterpillars of moths of the Geometridae family. They move by drawing their rear up to the head then stretching the head forward. When they pull their back end forward the body makes...
Looper caterpillar
(Geometridae family sp.1)
1 image 		This could be a member of the Anisodes or Perixera genus, but I'm not sure. It is a small creamy coloured Geometrid moth peppered with fine black spots. There is larger dark spot on each wing. Each...
unknown
(Geometridae family sp.2)
2 images 		This could be a member of the Anisodes or Perixera genus, but I'm not sure. It is a fairly drab brown looper moth with four black dots on the wings.
unknown
(Geometridae family sp.3)
1 image
Fairly large brown Geometrid moth from subfamily ENNOMINAE. Not sure what species it is.
unknown
(Geometridae family sp.4)
1 image 		The adult Gnamptoloma aventiaria moths vary in colour from green to reddish brown. The wings have a brownish line that crosses each wing. There is a dark spot on each forewing. When at rest the wing...
no common name
(Gnamptoloma aventiaria)
2 images 		The Pink Bellied Moth varies in colour from pink to brown. They have a brown or yellow line across the upper surface of each wing. The forewings curve upwards at the tips. the underside of the wings...
Pink Bellied Moth
(Oenochroma vinaria)
1 image 		This Geometrid moth belongs to the subfamily Sterrhinae, and is probably a species of Scopula. It is white with fine dark spots, delicate pattern of faint wavy lines and two larger dark spots - one...
no common name
(Scopula sp.)
1 image

Noctuid Moths, Armyworms, Semi-Loopers, Owlet Moths
The adult Castor Semi-Looper moth has light and dark brown patterned forewings, and black and white hindwings. The caterpillars are brown with a black and white head initially, later turning...
Castor Semi-Looper moth
(Achaea janata)
2 images 		The Tobacco Looper adult moth is mainly brown, with a tuft of hairs on its head There is a silvery pattern on the forewings and a small letter-S shape. Some adults had grey patches on the forewings....
Tobacco Looper
(Chrysodeixis argentifera)
1 image 		The moth is brown with a wavy green pattern on the forewings. It has a tuft of hairs on the head. It rests with its wings held in a steep roof shape Caterpillars are smooth and green.
Green Blotched Moth
(Cosmodes elegans)
1 image 		This Noctuid moth has prominent eye spots on each fore wing. There are broad creamy white bands running across the wings, and a broken band of spots near the trailing edge of the wing. When seen...
no common name
(Donuca orbigera)
1 image
Dysgonia propyrrha is an attractive moth. The head is orange, and the wings are chocolate brown with a whitish speckled bar across each forewing. The trailing edges of the wings are white, and there...
Owlet Moth
(Dysgonia propyrrha)
1 image 		<i>Erebus terminitincta</i> is an impressive large moth. It has dark brown wings with large eye spots and a broad white band that curves round the centre of the fore wings and rear wings. The eyes...
Erabus moth
(Erebus terminitincta)
1 image 		This Eublemma is an attractive small moth with broad pink band on each forewing. The pink band forms a V-shape when wings are at rest. The head is white and the thorax is buff coloured. The pink band...
Eublemma moth
(Eublemma cochylioides)
2 images 		This moth is similar to Eublemma cochylioides but smaller. It has a broad pink band edged with dark red on each forewing. The pink band forms a V-shape when wings are at rest. The head is white and...
Eublemma moth
(Eublemma sp.)
1 image
<i>Grammodes justa</i> is a dark brown moth with two parallel white lines across each forewing, and one white line on each hindwing. When at rest it holds its wings in an equilateral triangle shape.
no common name
(Grammodes justa)
1 image 		The adult Native Budworm moth has brown forewings with fine darker markings. The hind wings are buff with a dark border. The underside has dark bands near ends of each wing and two black spots under...
Native Budworm, Heliothis punctigera
(Helicoverpa punctigera)
1 image 		The adult Sugarcane Looper moth is brown with a diagonal dark line with a pale edge across each forewing. There is a row of dark dots between the line and the trailing edge of the forewing. There is...
Sugarcane Looper
(Mocis frugalis)
1 image 		Not sure what species this is. It could be a Noctua species - alternatively it may be in the genus Hypocala This moth is plain brown when seen with wings folded. The hind wings are orange with a...
Fruit-piercing moth
(Noctua sp.)
2 images
Granny's Cloak Moth is a large brownish grey moth with eye spots and scalloped pattern. These are the large fluttering moths you often see in dark places around the house. From a distance it...
Granny's Cloak Moth
(Speiredonia spectans)
1 image 		This Armyworm moth has grey to reddish-brown forewings with a complex pattern of creamy streaks and paler lines along the veins. The hindwings are greyish-white with grey margins. Larvae are...
Armyworm
(Spodoptera litura)
2 images 		The adult Lawn Armyworm moth is mainly brown with a complex pattern of creamy and grey markings. The trailing edge of the forewings have a fringe of dark and light patches.
Lawn Armyworm
(Spodoptera mauritia)
2 images 		The lily caterpillar is black with yellow and pale grey or whitish stripes running along the length of the body. There are two black spots like eyes near the rear, and a dark band about a quarter way...
Lily caterpillar
(Spodoptera picta)
2 images

Nymphs
The Wanderer Butterfly is a large orange and black butterfly with narrow forewings. They have a slow gliding flight. Caterpillars are striped, and pupa are green and hang down under a leaf.
Wanderer Butterfly
(Danaus plexippus)
3 images 		The Common Crow Butterfly is a large black butterfly with white spots on the fore wings and a band of elongated spots on the hind wings. The outer wing margins have small white spots. The males have...
Common Crow Butterfly
(Euploea core)
5 images 		The Orange Ringlet is orange above with small eye spot on each hindwing. The underside of each hindwing has two eye spots. It flies close to the ground amongst grasses
Orange Ringlet
(Hypocysta irius)
1 image 		The Meadow Argus is a brown butterfly with two prominent orange and black eye spots on each wing. They are usually seen within 1m of the ground, and are often seen at rest on the ground with wings...
Meadow Argus
(Junonia villida)
1 image
The Evening Brown is a large orange brown butterfly with mottled brown underside. It has four small eye spots on the underside of the hind wing. It rests on the ground with its wings raised and...
Evening Brown
(Melanitis leda)
2 images 		The Blue Tiger is unmistakable with blue streaks oval spots on a dark background. They have a slow weak flight. Adults congregate in large numbers along creek banks along northern Queensland coast...
Blue Tiger
(Tirumala hamata)
1 image

Plume Moths
Plume Moths hold their narrow wings at right angles to their body when at rest. Their flight is fairly weak. The antennae are short and held out in front of head at right angle to each other. They...
Plume Moth
(Pterophoridae family )
4 images

Pyralid Moths
Cardamyla carinentalis is a moth found in and around rainforest. The forewings are black and white, and the hindwings are orange with a black spot in the centre and a black border. The moths in the...
no common name
(Cardamyla carinentalis)
1 image 		Cardamyla didymalis is a medium sized black and white moth. The wings are edged with evenly spaced black square spots. The head is orange. The abdomen has black and white bands with some orange along...
no common name
(Cardamyla didymalis)
2 images 		Endotricha pyrosalis is a brightly coloured small moth. The forewings that are half golden orange and half maroon red. The hindwings are pale orange with a reddish rear margin. The moths rest in a...
no common name
(Endotricha pyrosalis)
2 images 		This Endotricha is a small purple and brown coloured moth. The forewings are brownish, and the hindwings are purple. All wings have a border of purple and black like a ribbon round the trailing edge.
no common name
(Endotricha sp.1)
1 image
This Endotricha species is a small reddish brown moth. The forewings have a creamy white band across the centre. At rest, they have an unusual pose with head up and tail curved upwards and wings held...
no common name
(Endotricha sp.2)
4 images 		The Indian Meal Moth is a small brown moth that is often a pest in stored food. Once established in can be hard to get rid of as it breeds indoors. When at rest the wings are folded together tightly...
Indian Meal Moth
(Plodia interpunctella)
4 images

Skippers
The Orange Palm Dart Butterfly is an orange and black skipper. Wing profile is triangular when the butterfly is at rest. Larva is pale green with banded head.
Orange Palm Dart Butterfly
(Cephenes augiades)
1 image 		The Splendid Ochre is a fairly large Skipper butterfly with orange and brown pattern above and paler orange and yellow underside. The pattern of pale spots on lower wings is distinctive. The Splendid...
Splendid Ochre
(Trapezites symmomus)
1 image

Swallowtails
The male Orchard Swallowtail has black forewings with an arc of white spots near the tip. The hindwings have a white panel and single small red spot above. The underside of the male wings are black...
Orchard Swallowtail
(Papilio aegeus)
2 images

Tiger Moths
This Tiger Moth has black wings with orange bars and spots. The abdomen is stocky with black and orange bands.
Tiger Moth
(Arctiidae family )
2 images 		This Tiger Moth is black with orange-yellow spots on each forewing. It has a yellow head and feathery antennae. The caterpillar is black and hairy with yellow spots.
Tiger Moth
(Asura sp.)
1 image 		This Orange Spotted Tiger Moth has black wings with five pale orange spots on each wing. The body has black and yellow bands like a wasp.
Orange Spotted Tiger Moth
(Ceryx sp)
1 image 		This Lichen Moth is pale brown. It rests with its wings flat on top of each other. At first glance it can have the appearance of a cockroach.
Lichen Moth
(Eilema sp.)
1 image
The Magpie Moth has dark wings with a broad band of large white spots across the fore wings, and large white spots on the rear wings. The abdomen is bright orange yellow and black bands, giving the...
Magpie Moth
(Nyctemera secundiana)
2 images 		Schistophleps albida is a small white moth with light brown markings. There are two black dots on each fore wing. The legs are white with light brown ends. The Caterpillar is gray with yellow spots,...
no common name
(Schistophleps albida)
2 images 		The Heliotrope Moth is brightly coloured have white wings with red, brown and black spots and markings. It is active by day fluttering low over the ground like a small butterfly. The caterpillars are...
Heliotrope Moth
(Utetheisa pulchelloides )
1 image 		This moth is very similar to <i>Utetheisa pulchelloides </i> (the Heliotrope moth). Both species have brightly coloured have white wings with red, brown and black spots and markings. Some have orange...
Salt and Pepper Moth
(Utetheisa lotrix)
2 images

Tussock Moths
Euproctis lucifuga is a small golden yellow moth with feathery antennae. The forewings have a border of brighter gold colour.
no common name
(Euproctis lucifuga)
1 image 		Tussock Moths are fairly large moths with body covered in long scales that look like hair or fur. The wings are held back either flat or in a roof shape. The antennae are tucked back alongside the...
Tussock Moth
(Lymantriidae family )
2 images

Whites and Yellows
The Lemon Migrant is a medium cream or yellowish butterfly. Sometimes has reddish markings under wings. Caterpillars are green with creamy white lines alone each side.
Lemon Migrant
(Catopsilia pyranthe)
2 images 		The Scarlet Jezebel is a beautiful butterfly with brilliant markings of red, white, yellow and black. It is usually seen high in the tree canopy where it feeds on flower nectar.
Scarlet Jezebel
(Delias argenthona)
1 image 		The Large Grass-yellow butterfly has black tips on the upper side of the forewings. The underside of the wings are yellow with small dirty looking dark marks.
Large Grass-yellow
(Eurema hecabe)
1 image

Wool Moths
Monopis icterogastra is a small black and white moth. The hindwings are a plain golden colour. The head has a tuft of woolly white hairs. Antennae are long and thin held along the length of the wings.
Wool Moth
(Monopis icterogastra)
2 images

Ants
The Banded Sugar Ant is orange-brown with a black head. The rear of the abdomen is black with two dull bands. They have strong mandibles and can give a painful bite.
Banded Sugar Ant
(Camponotus consobrinus)
2 images 		Black Ants are small and black (no surprises there). The males have wings. Females have wings until after mating, when she becomes the reproductive queen ant. Worker ants are sterile and their role...
Black Ant
(Ochetellus glaber )
2 images 		The Dome-backed Spiny Ant is a medium-sized ant. It is shiny black with humped back. They have spines on their thorax.
Dome-backed Spiny Ant
(Polyrhachis australis)
2 images 		Golden-tailed Spiny Ants have a metallic sheen and the body is covered in golden hairs. They have spines on their thorax which may be used in defense against predators. Many Golden-spined Ants stay...
Golden-tailed Spiny Ant
(Polyrhachis ammon)
2 images
The body of this Spiny Ant is silver and black - species unknown.
Spiny Ant
(Polyrhachis sp.1)
2 images 		Winged stage of Spiny Ant - could be a Golden-tailed Spiny Ant.
Spiny Ant
(Polyrhachis sp.2)
3 images 		Green-head Ants are dark coloured with a metallic sheen that varies from blue-green to purple-green. They are common in urban areas and colonise disturbed areas quickly. Although they are not...
Green-head Ant
(Rhytidoponera metallica)
2 images

Bees