We went for a bushwalk in Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden yesterday and found this big guy. Is it a big Bogong moth? Wikipedia describes them as being 2.5-3.5cm in length. This one must be at least 5 cm in length - I've put my FR235 next to him which has a diameter of 4.5cm to provide some scale.
Bogong Moth?
![](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/g/38.jpg)
ihbh on 26/02/2019 - 14:38
Last edited 26/02/2019 - 15:01 by 1 other user
Last edited 26/02/2019 - 15:01 by 1 other user
Comments
This is just a sting for serial killer types.
if your bush walking and u hear a moth saying "hay mate, u got the time?"
then thats definetly a BIG moth…and im 100% shure its a witchetty grub moth.
http://www.ozanimals.com/Insect/Witchetty-Grub/Endoxyla/leuc…
That link says they have a wingspan of 16 cm which would mean they'd have to be about 9cm long (8cm for half the wingspan plus a cm for the head). OP said 5cm long.
There are many varieties of witchetty grub moths from Google images which look close, so you could well be right. I've tried asking the CSIRO to see if they can identify it too.
How many steps did you do?
Not enough - gentle walk while toddler did bush school with Mum and I carried bub sleep in Ergo bag.
From Wiki:
Not seeing that colouration in your photo, so maybe a related species?