Beyond the pest: Life history, ecology and ethnoentomology of the giant wood moth ( Endoxyla cinereus )

The giant wood moth, Endoxyla cinereus (Tepper, 1890) (Cossidae: Zeuzerinae), is the heaviest known moth in the world and a traditional food resource to Indigenous Australians, but it is primarily understood as a pest. Research on its pest status has highlighted the different interactions this moth has with plants and animals, suggesting that it plays an important role in Australian ecosystems. Here, I review the literature on Endoxyla cinereus to compile and illustrate its life history and species‐specific ecological interactions for the first time. This life history is then applied to interpret the ecological role that this species plays in shaping forest communities, serving as a key food resource to other animals and creating habitat in the form of tree hollows. Based on this, the giant wood moth is an ecosystem engineer. The human impact of this species is then reviewed including indigenous use of E .  cinereus and other Endoxyla spp., and the forestry pest status of these moths. Consideration of the moth's long, cryptic life history reveals the scientific knowledge possessed by Indigenous Australians on harvesting wood moth larvae, while future studies on earlier life stages and pest, identity may aid the development of sustainable pest management. Finally, the taxonomic status of Endoxyla cinereus is briefly discussed, as previous research suggests the presence of either cryptic or misidentified species. Future research on the giant wood moth may aid both natural and cultural conservation programmes and provide novel solutions for managing the species as a pest. This review provides a framework for studying the giant wood moth and documenting the life history of other wood moths.