Te pūrēhua noho tī

Cabbage tree caterpillar

Epiphryne verriculata Felder & Rogenhofer

Caterpillar of the cabbage tree moth, Epiphryne verriculata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Image: Tim Holmes © Plant & Food Research

Caterpillar of the cabbage tree moth, Epiphryne verriculata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Image: Tim Holmes © Plant & Food Research

Pūtoi
Order: Lepidoptera
Whānau
Family: Geometridae

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Te Rahi

15–20 mm

Size range

15–20 mm

Te Tītaringa

He momo māori, kitea ai e noho ana ki ngā momo tī katoa.

Distribution

Native, found throughout the range of cabbage trees

Te Huringa Ora

Kai ai ngā anuhe i ngā rau kopiti pūhouhou o te tī (Cordyline australis)
I āna mahi kai pō, kua mahue iho te tini koroputa me te tongari ki ngā rau e whewhera haere ana
Ka huri ngā anuhe hei ngeti i ngā otaota e takoto ana i te pūtake o te kahiwi
Kua noho huna ngā pakeke i ngā rau mate o te tī

Life history

Caterpillars feed on the young unopened leaves of cabbage tree (Cordyline australis)
Nocturnal feeding activity leaves holes and notches in the expanding leaves
Caterpillars pupate amongst debris at base of tree trunk
Adults perfectly camouflaged on dead cabbage tree leaves

He pārongo atu anō

Factsheet: Cabbage tree moth – Epiphryne verriculata

Further information

Factsheet: Cabbage tree moth – Epiphryne verriculata

Gallery

Caterpillar of the cabbage tree moth, Epiphryne verriculata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Image: Tim Holmes © Plant & Food Research Image — Caterpillar of the cabbage tree moth, Epiphryne verriculata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Image: Tim Holmes © Plant & Food Research

Cabbage tree moth / Te pūrēhua noho tī (female) Image — Cabbage tree moth / Te pūrēhua noho tī (female)

Cabbage tree moth / Te pūrēhua noho tī (male) Image — Cabbage tree moth / Te pūrēhua noho tī (male)

Cabbage tree moth damage to leaves of a cabbage tree, Cordyline australis. Image: Nicholas A. Martin © Nicholas A. Martin Image — Cabbage tree moth damage to leaves of a cabbage tree, Cordyline australis. Image: Nicholas A. Martin © Nicholas A. Martin

Notching by caterpillars of cabbage tree moth in leaves of cabbage tree. Image: Nicholas A. Martin © Plant & Food Research Image — Notching by caterpillars of cabbage tree moth in leaves of cabbage tree. Image: Nicholas A. Martin © Plant & Food Research