Moth fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are moths?

Moths are insects in the order Lepidoptera. Like butterflies, they have six legs and four wings covered with tiny scales. Many moths are active at night, but some species fly during the day. In Australia, moths make up most of the lepidopteran species, so there are far more kinds of moths than butterflies.

Illustration of a scribbly gum moth with patterned brown wings spread open. A scribbly gum moth.

Fast facts – Moths

Scientific group – Moths belong to the insect order Lepidoptera.

Body features – Adult moths usually have four scaly wings, six legs, antennae and a coiled proboscis for feeding.

Diet – Caterpillars usually chew plant material such as leaves. Many adult moths drink nectar, but some adults do not feed at all.

Habitat – Moths live in forests, woodlands, gardens and cities. Different stages may use leaves, bark, shrubs, tree trunks and leaf litter.

Life cycle – Moths have four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa and adult.

Teaching insects or living things in Stage 1? Explore Schoolyard safari learning resource.

Alt text: Large brown emperor gum moth with eye-like spots on its wings. Emperor gum moth resting with wings spread.

Brown bogong moth on a white surface. Bogong moths migrate in spring to the Australian Alps, where adults rest in cool caves over summer before returning north to breed in autumn.

Where do moths live?

Moths live in many habitats, including eucalypt forests, woodlands, gardens and urban areas. At Field of Mars Reserve, moths may be found on tree trunks, among shrubs, around flowers and in leaf litter. Scribbly gum moth larvae live under the bark of scribbly gum trees, where they make the winding tunnels that form the familiar scribbles.

Open eucalypt forest in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park with tall gums on a grassy slope. Moths can be found across Australia in areas such as the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

Smooth pale trunk of a scribbly gum tree in Australian bushland. Scribbly gum moth larvae live under the bark of scribbly gum trees.

What do moths eat?

Most moth caterpillars are herbivores that chew leaves or other plant material. Many adult moths use a long proboscis to drink nectar from flowers. Hawk moths are well known for hovering in front of flowers while they feed. Some large moths, such as the emperor gum moth, do not feed as adults and live only a short time after emerging.

Clearwing hawk moth hovering beside flowers while feeding. Clearwing hawk moth drinking nectar from flowers.

What is the life cycle of a moth?

A moth begins life as an egg. The egg hatches into a caterpillar, which eats and grows, then changes into a pupa inside a cocoon or other shelter. Later, the adult moth emerges. In local species, this can look quite different. Scribbly gum moth larvae feed between layers of bark, while emperor gum moth eggs are glued to eucalypt leaves and the caterpillars later spin a tough cocoon.

Small pale eggs attached to a green eucalypt leaf. Emperor gum moth eggs on a eucalypt leaf.

Large spiny emperor gum moth caterpillar on a branch. Emperor gum moth caterpillar.

Caterpillar attached to a branch while spinning silk for a cocoon. Emperor gum moth caterpillar spinning a cocoon.

What adaptations do moths have to help them survive?

Moths have many adaptations that help them survive. Their scaly wings can help with camouflage and protection. Many species are active at night, which can help them avoid some daytime predators. Some moths, such as hawk moths, have a long proboscis for reaching nectar deep inside flowers. Some caterpillars have protective spines, and many moths pupate inside cocoons. Scribbly gum moth larvae are protected while feeding beneath bark, hidden from view.

Colourful cup moth caterpillar with spines and raised knobs resting on metal wires. Some moth caterpillars, such as the mottled cup moth, are covered in stinging spines that help protect them from predators.

Why are moths important?

Moths are important pollinators. When nectar-feeding moths visit flowers, they can carry pollen from one flower to another. Some native plants rely on nocturnal pollinators, including moths. Moths and caterpillars are also an important food source for other animals such as birds, bats and other invertebrates, making them an important part of bushland ecosystems.

Black-and-orange tiger moth resting beneath a green leaf. Tiger moths are one group of moths that help to pollinate plants in Sydney bushland.

How can you help moths?

You can help moths by protecting local bushland, growing local flowering plants that provide nectar, and planting or keeping host plants for caterpillars. Leaving some leaf litter and sheltered garden spaces undisturbed can also help because some moths pupate in sheltered places. Reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting is helpful too, because artificial light can interfere with nocturnal pollinators.

Hairy white-stemmed gum moth caterpillar with orange spots crawling across weathered timber. White-stemmed gum moth caterpillars feed on eucalypts and depend on native vegetation to survive.

More invertebrate fact sheets

Invertebrate fact sheets – overview
Insects fact sheet – Moths are insects with the same basic insect body plan.
Cicadas fact sheet
Green lacewing fact sheet

Habitats and ecosystems

Attributions

References

Australian Museum. n.d. Moths and Butterflies factsheet. [online] Available at:

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/moths-and-butterflies-factsheet/

Australian Museum. n.d. Moths and butterflies (Order Lepidoptera). [online] Available at:

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/moths-and-butterflies-order-lepidoptera/

Australian Museum. n.d. Hawk Moths. [online] Available at:

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/hawk-moths/

Australian Museum. n.d. Scribbly Gum Moth. [online] Available at:

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/scribbly-gum-moth/

Australian Museum. n.d. Emperor Gum Moth. [online] Available at:

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/emperor-gum-moth/

Australian Museum. n.d. Bogong Moth. [online] Available at:

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/bogong-moth/

Australian Museum. n.d. Cup moths. [online] Available at:

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/cup-moths/

CSIRO. n.d. Native pollinators. [online] Available at:

https://www.csiro.au/en/research/natural-environment/ecosystems/native-pollinators

Field of Mars EEC. n.d. Scribbly gum fact sheet. [online] Available at:

https://fieldofmar-e.schools.nsw.gov.au/fact-sheets/plants/scribbly-gum-fact-sheet

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. n.d. Avoid too much night lighting. [online] Available at:

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/pollinators-and-pollination/pollinator-garden-toolkit/avoid-too-much-night-lighting

Image attributions

A scribbly gum moth – Field of Mars EEC (original illustration).

Emperor gum moth resting with wings spread – “File:CSIRO ScienceImage 2904 Emperor gum moth.jpg” by CSIRO. CC BY 3.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CSIRO_ScienceImage_2904_Emperor_gum_moth.jpg

Bogong moths migrate in spring to the Australian Alps, where adults rest in cool caves over summer before returning north to breed in autumn – “File:Bogong Moth (10301606615).jpg” by John Tann. CC BY 2.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bogong_Moth_(10301606615).jpg

Moths can be found across Australia in areas such as the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park – Field of Mars EEC (original image).

Scribbly gum moth larvae live under the bark of scribbly gum trees – “File:Scribbly Gum scribbles (8349111780).jpg” by John Tann. CC BY 2.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scribbly_Gum_scribbles_(8349111780).jpg

Clearwing hawk moth drinking nectar from flowers – “File:Pellucid hawk moth , feeding on Lantana camara flowers.jpg” by Drkvijay2000. CC BY-SA 4.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pellucid_hawk_moth_%2C_feeding_on_Lantana_camara_flowers.jpg

Emperor gum moth eggs on a eucalypt leaf – “File:Emperor Gum Moth eggs.jpg” by Fir0002. CC BY-SA 3.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emperor_Gum_Moth_eggs.jpg

Emperor gum moth caterpillar – “File:Caterpillar at 5th stage.jpg” by Fir0002. CC BY-SA 3.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caterpillar_at_5th_stage.jpg

Emperor gum moth caterpillar spinning a cocoon – “File:Caterpillar spinning cocoon.jpg” by Fir0002. CC BY-SA 3.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caterpillar_spinning_cocoon.jpg

Some moth caterpillars, such as the mottled cup moth, are covered in stinging spines that help protect them from predators – “File:Cup moth caterpillar02.jpg” by Fir0002. CC BY-SA 3.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cup_moth_caterpillar02.jpg

Tiger moths are one group of moths that help to pollinate plants in Sydney bushland. – “File:Tiger moth at Royal National Park (5502204128).jpg” by John Tann. CC BY 2.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiger_moth_at_Royal_National_Park_(5502204128).jpg

Like all moth larvae, the white-stemmed gum moth caterpillar depends on native vegetation to survive – “File:Chelepteryx collesi (23866326230).jpg” by Donald Hobern. CC BY 2.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chelepteryx_collesi_(23866326230).jpg

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