Melanodes anthracitaria is well-named for its general black colour, although some specimens (mainly males) have variable light bands on the wings. It can be found across the ACT, from Namadgi National Park to suburban Canberra, and is often seen at verandah lights in spring and summer. Larvae have been reared on young Eucalyptus leaves. The antennae of both sexes are narrow. Melanodes anthracitaria is sometimes confused with the other geometrids Pholodes sinistraria (p.171) and Scioglyptis lyciaria (p.171), although the males of the latter two species have broadly branched antennae.