| New Zealand looper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female | |
 | |
| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Epyaxa |
| Species: | E. rosearia |
| Binomial name | |
| Epyaxa rosearia (Doubleday, 1843) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Epyaxa rosearia, the New Zealand looper or plantain moth, [2] [3] is a moth of the family Geometridae. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand.
E. rosearia was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1843 and named Cidaria rosearia. [4] [5]
The eggs of this species are pale yellow and oval with a smooth shell. [6]
Alex Purdie describes the caterpillar of this species as:
Length, at rest, about three- quarters of an inch. Colour light-green, with indistinct whitish longitudinal lines, and a narrow median dorsal stripe of the ground colour, edged on each side by one of these whitish lines; a subdorsal whitish line on each side of the median stripe; the ground colour shows again as a lateral line, edged below with whitish. Under-side with delicate whitish or yellowish longitudinal tracings, as on the upper side. The junctions of the segments show yellowish or whitish rings when the larva contracts. Head, greenish-yellow. Body tapering somewhat to the head. [6]
The caterpillars form a chrysalis that is glossy and very dark brownish black. [6] They can be found amongst the leaves of the forest floor. [7] E. rosearia adults are varied in appearance. They can have a pinkish tinge or can be brownish in hue although olive green is also common. [7]
E. rosearia are very common throughout New Zealand. [7]
While it is endemic to New Zealand, [8] the larvae have so far only been recorded feeding on exotic plant species: Nasturtium officinale , Plantago lanceolata , Trifolium ambiguum , Trifolium repens and Tropaeolum majus . [9] The larvae also seem to feed on the leaves of Trifolium caucasicum .
A recent study suggests this moth may be assisting with the pollination of avocado trees. [10]
