Cabbage tree moth » Manaaki Whenua

Cabbage tree moth / Te pūrēhua noho tī (female)

Cabbage tree moth / Te pūrēhua noho tī (female)

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae

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Size range

Wingspan when at rest 40 mm

Distribution

Native, found throughout the range of cabbage trees

Life history

Perfectly camouflaged on dead cabbage tree leaves
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

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