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Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana)

The Golden Sun Moth is a day-active moth found in south-eastern Australia. It uses native temperate grasslands and open grassy woodlands, particularly habitat with wallaby grass.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Vulnerable.

Australian Capital Territory, Nature Conservation Act 2014: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

Golden Sun Moths generally emerge and fly from October to January, with timing varying by location and seasonal conditions across Australia.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Adult flight and breeding season: Golden Sun Moths generally emerge and fly from October to January, with timing varying by location and seasonal conditions across Australia.

Identification: Appearance

This small moth has club-like antennae and a wingspan of about 3 cm. Its dark appearance reveals bright orange hindwings when it opens its wings.

This small moth has club-like antennae and a wingspan of about 3 cm. Its dark appearance reveals bright orange hindwings when it opens its wings.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species occurs in scattered sites in Victoria, the ACT and NSW. No extant populations are known from South Australia.

The species occurs in scattered sites in Victoria, the ACT and NSW. No extant populations are known from South Australia.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It occurs in native grasslands and open grassy woodlands, as well as some secondary or degraded grasslands. Wallaby grasses are important, and it has also been recorded in grasslands containing speargrass, Bothriochloa and Chilean needlegrass.

It occurs in native grasslands and open grassy woodlands, as well as some secondary or degraded grasslands. Wallaby grasses are important, and it has also been recorded in grasslands containing speargrass, Bothriochloa and Chilean needlegrass.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Adult moths do not eat and have no mouth. The larvae feed mainly on wallaby grass roots, speargrass and Chilean needlegrass.

Adult moths do not eat and have no mouth. The larvae feed mainly on wallaby grass roots, speargrass and Chilean needlegrass.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Females lay around 100 to 150 eggs in clumps of wallaby grass. Eggs hatch after about three weeks, and the larvae then tunnel below ground and live for one to three years.

Females lay around 100 to 150 eggs in clumps of wallaby grass. Eggs hatch after about three weeks, and the larvae then tunnel below ground and live for one to three years.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

After hatching, the larvae tunnel below ground.

After hatching, the larvae tunnel below ground.

Threats: Threats

Habitat loss and degradation threaten the species. Housing development, agriculture, grazing, mowing and invading weeds are identified as sources of harm to its grassland habitat.

Habitat loss and degradation threaten the species. Housing development, agriculture, grazing, mowing and invading weeds are identified as sources of harm to its grassland habitat.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or degrading grassland and grassy woodland habitat, including through housing development, agriculture, grazing or mowing, could harm the species. Disturbance or removal of grass tussocks and suitable grassland may also affect habitat used by the moth.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Woodland

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It occurs in native grasslands and open grassy woodlands, as well as some secondary or degraded grasslands.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: ACT, NSW, SA, VIC.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Tussock grassland

It occurs in native grasslands and open grassy woodlands, as well as some secondary or degraded grasslands.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: ACT, NSW, SA, VIC.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources