#rain moth

Rain Moth / Bardee / Grub / Waikeire

Abantiades atripalpis

From the hepialidae family. They have a wingspan of about 120 mm (males) / 170 mm (females). They tend to inhabit woodland near creeks and gullies. They can be found in the south of Australia.

Wow dang this is a beautiful moth! It looks like Abantiades atripalpis, which is commonly called the rain moth or bardee grub. They are quite large! Check this out:

Photo by possumpete

A smaller Hepialid moth, spotted on the wall of the hut we were staying in out at Dryandra. Quite similar to Oxycanus occidentalis, which was the first one I thought it was, but the pinkish legs and fluffier antennae suggest it’s O. perditus instead. 

A smaller Hepialid species, from a genus with a number of undescribed species. Most of them feed on grasses and sedges as larvae, as far as I can determine, and at least one species is a pasture pest

Abantiades sp, possibly albofasciatus. Hepialid moths, also known as Ghost Moths and Swift Moths, are closely related to the Microlepidoptera, despite their huge size. They have tiny antennae, and the males gather and release pheromones to attract a mate - the reverse of the usual practice among moths.

This genus, found only in Australia, emerge from their burrows after rain. The caterpillers feed on Eucalyptus root, ringbarking the root and feeding on the subsequent tumour-like growth. They're also eaten as a prized bush food. The caterpillars are also quite prone to being parasitised and killed by Cordyceps fungus.