{{Short description|Species of moth}} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{use Australian English|date=January 2020}}

{{Speciesbox | image = Trictena_atripalpis.jpg | taxon = Abantiades atripalpis | authority = (Walker, 1856) | synonyms = *''Pielus atripalpis'' <small>Walker, 1856</small> *''Trictena argentata'' *''Trictena atripalpis'' }} thumb|alt=two brown and white moths on a man's hand, approximately as long as the palm is wide|On a man's hand '''''Abantiades atripalpis''''', also known as '''bardee''' ('''bardy''', '''bardi) grub''', '''rain moth''' or '''waikerie''', and previously known as ''Trictena atripalpis'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Herbison-Evans |first1=Don |last2=Crossley |first2=Stella |title=''Abantiades atripalpis'' |url=http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/hepi/atripalpis.html |website=Australian Butterflies and their Caterpillars |access-date=22 April 2023 |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422063319/http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/hepi/atripalpis.html |url-status=live }}</ref> is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It is found in the whole southern half of Australia.

==Habitat== The rain moth is found right across southern Australia in woodland areas alongside creeks and gullies, especially near eucalyptus trees.<ref name=mtlofty>{{cite book|title=Natural Resources, Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges: Creature features2013 – 2019|publisher=Government of South Australia|author=NRM Education (Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board)|quote=Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License}}</ref>

==Larvae== The caterpillar is used by fishermen as bait.<ref name=mtlofty/><ref name=linus>{{cite web|url=http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/hepi/atripal.html |title=Trictena atripalpis |author=Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley |publisher=uts.edu.au |date=May 26, 2008 |accessdate=2009-02-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924134635/http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/hepi/atripal.html |archivedate=September 24, 2009 }}</ref>

The larvae live in tunnels,<ref name=mtlofty/> feeding on ''Casuarina pauper'' and ''Eucalyptus'' species, especially Eucalyptus camaldulensis.<ref name=linus/> They are herbivores.<ref name=mtlofty/>

==Moth== The wingspan is up to {{convert|120|mm}} for males and {{convert|170|mm}} for females.<ref name="linus" /> They can be the same size as a small insectivorous bat, and owls often prey on them.<ref name="mtlofty" /> The body reaches a length of 120&nbsp;mm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanctuarylakesresort.com.au/index.php/publications/natures-rubik/184-natures-rubick-the-rain-moth|title=Sanctuary Lakes Resort - the Rain Moth|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323084922/https://www.sanctuarylakesresort.com.au/index.php/publications/natures-rubik/184-natures-rubick-the-rain-moth|url-status=live}}</ref>

The adult females produce a great number (up to 40,000) of eggs, which are scattered while flying. Their flight months are in Autumn (April to June).<ref name="Jennings, J.T. 2009, pp. 306-333">Jennings, J.T., Austin, A.D., Davies, K., Harvey, M., Hirst, D. & Taylor, G. 2009, Terrestrial Invertebrates. In: Jennings, J.T. (Ed.) Natural History of the Riverland and Murraylands. (Royal Society of South Australia Inc.), pp. 306-333.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q542609}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abantiades Atripalpis}} Category:Hepialidae Category:Moths of Australia Category:Moths described in 1856 Category:Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist)