Praxis aterrima (Walker, 1856)
Black Praxis
 (formerly known as Mamestra aterrima)
EREBINAE,   EREBIDAE,   NOCTUOIDEA
  
Don Herbison-Evans,
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Praxis aterrima
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

These adult moths have dark grey forewings crossed by dark broken wavy lines, and with a few variable small white spots. The hindwings are paler with a similar but muted pattern. The wingspan is about 3.5 cms.

Praxis aterrima
(Photo: courtesy of CSIRO/BIO Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph)

The species has been found in :

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria, and
  • Tasmania.

    Further reading :

    Peter Marriott,
    Moths of Victoria - Part 8,
    Night Moths and Allies - NOCTUOIDEA(B)    ,
    Entomological Society of Victoria, 2017, pp. 14-15.

    Francis Walker,
    Noctuidae,
    List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
    Part 9 (1856), p. 238, No. 37.

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    (written 13 May 2019, updated 1 December 2025)