The pūriri moth, also commonly called the ghost moth or pepetuna, is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. This moth is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. It is New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan of up to 150 mm. It spends the first five to six years of its life as a grub in a tree trunk, with the last 48 hours of its life as a moth. Footage has been taken of a pūriri moth chrysalis hatching over a period of one hour and forty minutes.
Epyaxa rosearia, the New Zealand looper or plantain moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Tingena armigerella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. T. armigerella is endemic to New Zealand where it is found in the North Island. The larvae of this species feed on plant litter. It is parasitised by the parasitic wasp Fustiserphus intrudens.
Scopula rubraria is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It is native to both New Zealand and Australia.
Anachloris is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, with three species, found in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Orocrambus flexuosellus is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1843. O. flexuosellus is endemic to New Zealand. It has been recorded from the North Island, South Island and the Stewart Islands. The species' habitat consists of lowland to alpine grasslands.
Austrocidaria similata is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. It endemic to New Zealand.
Nyctemera annulata, the magpie moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1832. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in all parts of the country.
Phaeosaces coarctatella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest however they can also be found in domestic gardens. Larvae shelter in hollow twigs or under bark and emerge at night to browse on lichens. They pupate within their shelter. Adults are on the wing from September to January and are variable in their appearance. They vary both in colour, from reddish brown to a greenish yellow shade, and also in the extent of the black marking on their forewings. They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.
Batrachedra arenosella, the armoured scale eating caterpillar or the coconut moth, is a species of moth of the family Batrachedridae. It was first described by Francis Walker using specimens collected in Auckland, New Zealand. It has been hypothesised that the New Zealand moth may contain two distinct species. As well as the moth species in New Zealand, this name has been applied, perhaps incorrectly, to moths found in India, Indonesia, the Malay Peninsula, and Réunion, as well as in Australia, from the Northern Territory and northern Queensland to New South Wales and South Australia.
Macarostola miniella is a species of moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is only found in the North Island and the adult moths have two different colour variations.
Izatha peroneanella, also known as the small lichen moth or the green lichen tuft, is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found throughout the North Island, other than the Aupouri Peninsula of Northland.
Metacrias erichrysa is a species of moth of the family Erebidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found in the lower half of the North Island and western alpine areas of the South Island. The adult female of the species is flightless and buff coloured whereas the male is brightly coloured and a rapid flier during daylight hours. The male of the species is on the wing from mid-November to early January. The species inhabits open herb and tussock fields in mountainous terrain at altitudes of between 900 and 1200 m. Larvae feed on Brachyglottis bellidioides,Festuca novae-zealandiae and indigenous species from the genera Acaena, Muehlenbeckia, Wahlenbergia and Raoulia.
Heterocrossa eriphylla, also known as the lichen snoutlet moth, is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island and the northern parts of the South Island. This species is regarded as relatively uncommon and inhabits native forest. The larvae feed on the healing wounds of New Zealand beech trees Fuscospora fusca and Fuscospora truncata. It pupates at its feeding site and emerges from December onward. The adult moth is nocturnal and is attracted to light. During the day the moth rests on lichen covered tree trunks where their lichen mimicking colouration assists with their camouflage.
Epiphryne undosata, also known as the lacebark looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest. The larvae feed on plant species in the genera Hoheria and Plagianthus. They pupate amongst dead leaves in a silk cocoon. The adult moths have been observed on the wing all year round but are most commonly seen from November until February. The adult moths are extremely variable in both their colour intensity and wing pattern.
Helastia cinerearia is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North, South and Stewart Islands as well as on the Mercury and Chatham Islands. The preferred habitat of H. cinerearia includes urban gardens, various types of forest and sub alpine habitats. The larval host is lichen on rocks. The adult moths are on the wing all year round but are most commonly observed from September until February. Adult moths are nocturnal and have been observed feeding from and likely pollinating Hebe salicifolia, Hoheria lyallii and Leptospermum scoparium.
Homodotis megaspilata, also known as the small hooked-tip looper moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. It is regarded as being common species. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest, scrub, coastal areas and domestic gardens. Larvae feed on the dead leaves of Geniostoma ligustrifolium and likely other native plants. Once mature the larvae will pupate on the ground forming a silken cocoon protected by hiding inside two leaves of its host plant. Adults are nocturnal and are on the wing from October to April. They are attracted to light. In appearance the adults of this species are extremely variable but can be distinguished from similar species as all variations have forewings with blunt hook shaped tips.
Gymnobathra flavidella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The host plants for the larvae of this species include Brachyglottis repanda and Gahnia procera.
Glaucocharis auriscriptella, also known as the yellow silverling, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1864 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found in the North, South, Stewart and Great Barrier Islands. The preferred habitat of this moth is lowland and subalpine native forest as well as wetlands. The larvae feed on moss. The adult moth is day flying and is on the wing from November to February. It can be observed in colonies and can be attracted to light at night. This species likely has only one generation per year.
Dichromodes niger is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the lower part of the South Island and upper half of the North Island. It inhabits rocky sites or forest clearings. The larvae feed on lichen. Adults are day flying, are rapid fliers, and are on the wing from November until January.
