The largest moth in Aotearoa New Zealand, and is found only on Te Ika a Māui / North Island;
Puriri moth
Māori name: pepe tuna; mokoroa, ngutara; pungoungou
English name: puriri moth
Scientific name: Aenetus virescens (Doubleday in White and Doubleday)
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hepialidae
- is the largest moth in Aotearoa / New Zealand, and is found only on Te Ika a Māui / North Island;
- relatives live in Australia, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea;
- caterpillars start life living in a bracket fungus;
- older caterpillars make a refuge tunnel in the trunk of a large tree;
- caterpillars feed on the wound tissue of the tree around the tunnel entrance, which is concealed by a silken "tent";
- pupation occurs in the tunnel;
- adult moths do not feed, and live only for a few days;
- moths are active at night.