Big Moths Nz

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Big moths nz. Moths are ecologically significant as pollinators as prey for spiders and birds and hosts for parasitoids. After all this is a land of moths not butterflies. The puriri moth aenetus virescens also commonly called the ghost moth or pepetuna is a species of moth of the family hepialidaethis moth is endemic to the north island of new zealandit is new zealands largest moth with a wingspan of up to 150 mm. Most likely it was there when i went to work.

You can see one wing in the photo. Introduced species are included in brackets. Large green new zealand moth september 28 2009 hi this moth greeted me on the steps to my house when i returned from work. Common name family notes nz species ghost moths hepialidae ghost moths dont have a mouth.

Moths mainly fly in the evening. The majority 92 of species are found nowhere else. Larger moths of new zealand. It is estimated that there are over 2000 species of moth in nz.

It spends the first five to six years of its life as a grub in a tree trunk common host plants are the puriri tree vitex lucens and. A parasitic wasp specific to codling was released in new zealand in 1906. This table lists some of the families of moths found in nz with an estimate of the number of nz species. New zealands butterflies and moths are distinctive for several reasons.

We have big moths tiny moths colourful moths and drab moths. Join this project to explore and celebrate nzs mighty moth fauna all moths and their caterpillars observed in nz can be added to the project. New zealands lepidoptera order displays the worlds highest rate of endemism. If you do happen to meet up with them they are usually those little grey or.

Moths may emerge any month of the year although the peak months are october to december with a second minor peak in marchthe female moth the largest moth in new zealand has a wing span up to 150 mm. Over 1650 species of moths in nz. 85 of the moths in nz are endemic. As brian parkinson points out in the foreword to butterflies and moths of new zealand butterflies tend to be more highly regarded than moths because butterflies are those charming ethereal creatures you see wafting by on bright sunny dayson the other hand moths being mostly nocturnal are seldom seen.

The male is smaller with a wing span of 100 mm. For more information on nz moths see. How nature controls codling moth natural controls have not proved effective in new zealand. Exotic moth species mostly from australia become established in new zealand every few years.

The other is wrapped onto the opposite side and held near the belly. By comparison britain shares its lepidoptera fauna with mainland europe and none of its species are endemic.