Kōwhai moth
Common NameKōwhai moth
Scientific NameUresiphita polygonalis maorialis
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilySpilomelinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, reddish-brown
HabitatGardens, open woodlands, coastal areas, anywhere kōwhai trees are present
Geographic RangeNew Zealand
Host PlantsSophora microphylla, Sophora tetraptera, Sophora chathamica, Cytisus scoparius
Flight PeriodYear-round (more active in spring and summer)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are gregarious, brightly colored (yellow with black stripes and spots), and feed on kōwhai leaves, sometimes causing significant defoliation. They pupate in a silken cocoon.
Identification TipsLook for its mottled brown and grey forewings, the prominent upward-curving 'snout-like' labial palps, and its presence near kōwhai trees. The striped larvae are also a strong indicator.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with mottled brown and grey forewings, often with a reddish tinge, and distinctive long, upward-curving labial palps.
