Insect
Southern Moon Moth
Dasypodia selenophoraAlso known as Southern Old Lady Moth, Granny Moth
Southern moon moths are broad-winged nocturnal moths named for the prominent blue-pupiled eyespots gracing their dusty brown forewings. Adults seek dark, sheltered roosts during the day, frequently sheltering beneath tree bark, within rock crevices, or inside sheds and verandas. Their well-camouflaged caterpillars feed on the leaves of native wattles before spinning loose silk cocoons among the foliage.
NocturnalCamouflagedEyespots
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAcacia leaves, Floral nectar, Fermenting tree sap
Predators
- Microbats
- Nocturnal birds
- Huntsman spiders
ThreatsArtificial light pollution, loss of host wattles, and pesticide exposure
HabitatsTemperate forests, open woodlands, coastal scrub, and suburban parks
Life spanUp to 1 year including immature stages; adults live 2–6 weeks
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyErebidae
- GenusDasypodia
- SpeciesDasypodia selenophora
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Porch observation: Look for resting adults under eaves or on textured walls near outdoor lights at dawn.
- Gentle relocation: Trap indoor visitors gently under a wide jar with stiff card to move them outside into shade.
Host Plant Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
Image unavailablePredator 
Close Relative (c) Christopher Stephens, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Christopher Stephens · cc-by-sa
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Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Southern Moon Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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