Moths and The Australian Fauna

The insect order, Lepidoptera, comprises almost 160,000 described species with probably at least as many again awaiting description and discovery. About 88% of the known species are moths. The earliest moths may have been bryophyte feeders as larvae adapting to the greenery of the angiosperms with which they co-developed through the Cretaceous and Palaeogene. The modern moth fauna retains a full range of plant- (and fungus-) feeding habits as well as excursions into detritivory and coprophagy, predation and, even, ectoparasitism. Adults’, habits range from non-feeding through to blood sucking. Interactions with plants have allowed the development of antipredator devices such as distastefulness and aposematism. Other antipredator devices include camouflage and protective resemblance to a range of other organisms as well as behavioural responses from flash colouration to antisonar jamming. The Australian moth fauna is estimated at over 10,500 described species organized into about 85 families, five of which are endemic to the continent. Of global families, the Oecophoridae dominate and Australia may contain a large majority of the world fauna. Following this introduction, this volume is organized into four major parts: eight general chapters; 13 dealing with selected subfamilies, families or superfamilies; 10 with pest species; and a concluding five describing species of conservation and cultural importance. A final chapter reviews knowledge gaps and research opportunities to guide future moth studies in Australia.