Golden Sun Moth
Synemon plana
Habitat Grassy box-gum woodlands and temperate grassland
IUCN Status N/A, Commonwealth Status is critically endangered
This small moth has a male wingspan of 3.4 cm and a female wingspan of 3.1 cm. Synemon is the only moth genus in which the female has a smaller wingspan than the male.
They live among dense wallaby grass, and lay their eggs at the base of a plant whose roots the larvae then eat. Adult Golden Sun Moths do not have functional mouth parts.
Golden Sun Moth numbers are in decline due to loss of habitat. Since it is reluctant to fly except during the warmest part of the day, and only has a flight period of a few days, the ability of this moth to find a new place to live when their habitat is destroyed is very limited.