![Flax looper moth [Orthoclydon praefectata] (female)](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/orthoclydon_praefectata_f1__FitMaxWzg3Miw1NDVd.jpg)
Flax looper moth Orthoclydon praefectata (female)
- Pūtoi
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Whānau
- Family
- Geometridae
Te Rahi
- E 35–38 mm te whānui mai i te pito o tētahi parirau ki tētahi.
Size range
- Wingspan of moth 35–38 mm
Te Tītaringa
- He momo māori.
Distribution
- Native species
Te Huringa Ora
- Kai ai te torongū whakakoromeke i te pō. Ko te mata raro o ngā rau pūhou o te harakeke (Phormuim tenax) tana kai, ā, mahue mai ana he papanga taekore i runga ake, me te matapihi te rite.
- I ngā rau tawhito, tērā ka ‘pakaru’ te matapihi, he kōhao te waihotanga iho.
- He kākāriki ngā anuhe i te tīmatanga, i muri mai, ka kōwhai pūata–kore me ōna anō tāhei whero.
Life history
- Looper caterpillar feeds nocturnally on the under-surface of young flax (Phormuim tenax) leaves, leaving the top colourless layer, forming a ‘window’
- In older leaves the window often breaks leaving a hole.
- Caterpillars green at first, later opaque yellow with red stripes.
![Flax looper moth [Orthoclydon praefectata] (female) Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/orthoclydon_praefectata_f1__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
![Flax looper moth [Orthoclydon praefectata] (male) Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/orthoclydon_praefectata_m1__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
