Macro-Moths of New Zealand's North Island
Cinnabar moth
The cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) is a brightly coloured arctiid moth found in Europe and western and central Asia. It has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to control the poisonous and nectar-rich ragwort, on which its larvae feed. The moth is named after the red mineral cinnabar because of the red patches on its predominantly black wings. Cinnabar ...more ↓
Green Garden Looper
The Green Garden Looper (Chrysodeixis eriosoma) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. Mostly cosmopolitan distribution, it is a serious pest found throughout Wadelai, Aden, Japan, China, throughout the Indian, Sri Lanka, Malayan, and Australasian regions. It is present in Hawaii and recorded as an incursion in mainland North America and Russia....
Cotton Bollworm Moth
The cotton bollworm, corn earworm or Old World (African) bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, (also known as the scarce bordered straw in the UK, where it is a migrant) is a moth, the larvae of which feed on a wide range of plants, including many important cultivated crops. It is a major pest in cotton and one of the most polyphagous and cosmopolitan pest ...more ↓
Northern armyworm
Mythimna separata, the northern armyworm, oriental armyworm or rice ear-cutting caterpillar, is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in China, Japan, South-east Asia, India, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands. It is one of the major pests of maize in Asia. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1865.
Variable Yellow Underwing
Hypocala deflorata is a moth of the Erebidae family. It is widespread from India, Sri Lanka to Africa and to Australia and many Pacific islands. Records include China, Borneo, Queensland, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Rotuma, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, Norfolk Island and New Zealand.
Oriental leafworm moth
Spodoptera litura, the tobacco cutworm or cotton leafworm, is a nocturnal species of moth. S. litura is a serious polyphagous pest in Asia, Oceania, and the Indian subcontinent described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. Its names reference two of the most common host plants of the moth. In total, 87 species of host plants that are parasitized by S. ...more ↓
Slender Burnished Brass
Thysanoplusia orichalcea, the slender burnished brass, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a polyphagous pest of vegetable crops that originated in Indonesia, from where it spread to Europe, South Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In northern Europe it is a migrant species.
Heliotrope Moth
Utetheisa pulchelloides (heliotrope moth) is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in the Indo-Australian region including Borneo, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua, Seychelles and most of Australia.
Ipsilon Dart Moth
Agrotis ipsilon, the dark sword-grass, black cutworm, greasy cutworm, or floodplain cutworm is a small noctuid moth found worldwide. The moth gets its scientific name from black markings on its forewings shaped like a letter "Y" and resembles the Greek letter epsilon. The larvae are known as "cutworms" because they cut plants and other crops. The ...more ↓
Tobacco Looper
The Tobacco looper (Chrysodeixis argentifera) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Australia and New Zealand.
Bogong Moth
The bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is a temperate species of night-flying moth, notable for its biannual long-distance seasonal migrations towards and from the Australian Alps, similar to the diurnal monarch butterfly. During the winter and autumn seasons, it is found in Southern and Western Australia, primarily across New South Wales, where adult bogong moths breed and larvae ...more ↓
Crimson-speckled Flunkey
Utetheisa pulchella, common name crimson-speckled flunkey or crimson-speckled moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae.
Eastern Streaked Plusia
The Eastern streaked plusia, (Ctenoplusia albostriata), is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in India, Sri Lanka, eastern Asia and the Pacific, including Borneo, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan, most of Australia and New Zealand.
Castor Semi-looper
Achaea janata, the castor semi-looper or croton caterpillar, is an erebid moth, the caterpillars of which are termed 'semi-loopers' due to their mode of locomotion. It is found from the Indo-Australian tropics and subtropics, extending south to New Zealand and east through the Pacific archipelagoes to Easter Island. It is a major pest of castor throughout the ...more ↓
Australian Grapevine Moth
The Australian grapevine moth (Phalaenoides glycinae) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is endemic to the south-eastern half of Australia, but is an invasive species in many parts of the world, including Canada and South Africa.
Slender owlet moth
Rhapsa scotosialis, commonly known as the slender owlet moth, is a moth of the Erebidae family. It was described by Francis Walker in 1866 from specimens collected in Auckland. R. scotosialis is one of the most common forest moths found in New Zealand.
Australian magpie moth
Nyctemera amicus, the senecio moth or magpie moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in south-east Asia, Oceania, and most of Australia. It can also be found in New Zealand.
Dot-underwing Moth
The Dot-underwing moth, (Eudocima materna), known as is a moth of the family Erebidae found in widespread parts of the world, mainly in tropical Asia extending to New Guinea and Australia as well as in Africa. Reports from the United States, Canada and the French Antilles are now considered to be Eudocima apta. Like his common name, the species can clearly ...more ↓
Lantana Stick Moth
The Catabena Moth (Neogalea sunia) is a moth of the family Noctuidae, and the only species in the Neogalea genus. It is found from the southern United States, through the Caribbean (including Guadeloupe and Martinique) to Argentina. Furthermore, it has been introduced in Australia, on Norfolk Island in 1962. Since that time it has increased its range and is now common in ...more ↓
Green-blotched Moth
The green blotched moth (Cosmodes elegans) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in New South Wales, Norfolk Island, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand.
Pinion-streaked Snout
Schrankia costaestrigalis, the pinion-streaked snout, is a species of moth of the family Erebidae. This species closely resembles members of the Crambidae or Pyralidae families.
Southern Moon Moth
The Southern Old Lady Moth or Southern Old Lady (Dasypodia selenophora) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in the southern half of Australia, as well as Norfolk Island, New Zealand and Macquarie Island.
Brown Cutworm
Agrotis munda, the brown cutworm or pink cutworm, is a noctuid moth. It is endemic to Australia. It is present in New Zealand.
Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta
Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and south Western Australia. It is also present in New Zealand.
Scar bank gem
The Scar Bank gem, (Ctenoplusia limbirena), also known as Silver U-Tail, is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in south-western Europe, Africa (Lesotho, the Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and eastern and equatorial Africa), the Canary Islands, Arabia, the southern Himalayas, India, Sri Lanka, ...more ↓
New Zealand Magpie Moth
Nyctemera annulata, commonly known as the magpie moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in all parts of the country.
Guava Moth
Ophiusa disjungens, the guava moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in south-east Asia and the south Pacific, including Thailand, Japan, Tonga and New South Wales and Queensland. Adult is a fruit-piercer.
Gum Leaf Skeletonizer
Uraba lugens (the gum-leaf skeletoniser) is a moth of the Nolidae family. It is found in Australia and New Zealand. The larvae are a serious pest of Eucalyptus spp. and its close relatives. The wingspan is 25-30 mm. In Australia there are about 1-2 generations per year.
Pantydia sparsa
Pantydia sparsa is a moth of the Erebidae family. It is found in Queensland and on Norfolk Island.
Metacrias
Metacrias is a genus of moth in the family Erebidae. All species are endemic to New Zealand.
Agrotis innominata
Agrotis innominata is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in the coastal regions of New Zealand and is the only Agrotis species that is endemic to New Zealand. It was described by George Hudson.
Artigisa melanephele
Artigisa melanephele is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is known from Australia and New Zealand.
Athetis tenuis
Athetis tenuis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is known from all of Australia, including Norfolk Island as well as New Zealand.
Bityla defigurata
Bityla defigurata is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1865. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Bityla sericea
Bityla sericea is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Northern wattle moth
Dasypodia cymatodes, commonly known as the Northern old lady moth, Northern old lady or Northern wattle moth, is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in Australia (Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria), and is self introduced in New Zealand.
Diarsia intermixta
Diarsia intermixta is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from Queensland to Tasmania in Australia, as well as in New Zealand, and islands in the south Pacific.
Ectopatria aspera
Ectopatria aspera is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand. It is considered a migratory species.
Mahoe-stripper moth
The Mahoe Stripper or Green Mahoe Moth (Feredayia graminosa) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth was first described by Francis Walker in 1857 as Erana graminosa.
Australian Fruitworm
Helicoverpa punctigera, the native budworm or Australian bollworm, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to Australia. H. punctigera is an occasional migrant to New Zealand.
Sugar Cane Armyworm
The Sugar Cane Armyworm (Mythimna loreyimima) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in Asia and Australia. They term “Armyworm” is used because of their habit to spread out in a line across a lawn or pasture, and slowly “marching” forward, meanwhile consuming the foliage they encounter.
Metacrias erichrysa
Metacrias erichrysa is a species of moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in New Zealand, where it is known from the western alpine areas of the South Island and mountains of the lower half of the North Island.
Cabbage tree moth
Epiphryne verriculata, the cabbage tree moth, is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is found in New Zealand.
Hydriomena exculpata
Hydriomena exculpata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1917. It is found in North America.
Plantain moth
Scopula rubraria is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in most of Australia.
New Zealand Looper
Epyaxa rosearia, the New Zealand looper, is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Red-spotted delicate
Epicyme rubropunctaria is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is found in New Zealand, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Victoria.
Native cranberry moth
Poecilasthena pulchraria is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Australia and New Zealand.
Pseudocoremia
Pseudocoremia is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae. This genus is endemic to New Zealand.
Austrocidaria parora
Austrocidaria parora is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species was described by Edward Meyrick as Harpalyce parora in 1884.
Austrocidaria similata
Austrocidaria similata is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It endemic to New Zealand and is found on the Auckland Islands, Campbell Island, Snares Islands, the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand, Stewart Island and Codfish Island. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1862 using a specimen obtained by William Colenso.
Pasiphila lunata
Pasiphila lunata is a species of moth in the Geometridae family. It is found in New Zealand.
golden grass carpet
Anachloris subochraria is a species of moth of the Geometridae family. It is found in New Zealand and the southern half of Australia including Tasmania and from Queensland across to Western Australia.
Asaphodes aegrota
Asaphodes aegrota is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Asaphodes clarata
Asaphodes clarata is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand.
Chalastra ochrea
Chalastra ochrea is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by George Howes in 1911 from specimens collected at Woodhaugh Gardens in Dunedin in February and April.
Chalastra pellurgata
Chalastra pellurgata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The larvae of this moth are bright green in colour and feed on the fronds of ferns.
Australian Pug Moth
Chloroclystis filata, the filata moth, is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in New Zealand, the south eastern quarter of Australia and on Norfolk Island.
Chloroclystis sphragitis
Chloroclystis sphragitis is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in New Zealand, where it has been recorded from both the North and South Islands.
Straight-lined Carpet
Chrysolarentia subrectaria is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Australia, including Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Kawakawa looper
Cleora scriptaria, the kawakawa looper moth, is a moth in the family Geometridae found only in New Zealand.
Forest Semilooper
Declana floccosa, the forest semilooper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1863 using specimens obtained from Colonel Bolton.
Declana griseata
Declana griseata is a species of moth in the Geometridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Declining" by the Department of Conservation.
Elvia glaucata
Elvia is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Elvia glaucata, is found in New Zealand. Both the genus and the species were first described by Francis Walker in 1862.
Epiphryne undosata
Epiphryne undosata is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Helastia cinerearia
Helastia cinerearia is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is native to New Zealand.
Helastia mutabilis
Helastia mutabilis is a species of moth of the Geometridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from both the North and South Islands.
