Lacebark Looper

Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:

slightly over 1⁄2 inch in length, rather stout, green, paler underneath, with the skin slightly wrinkled; the head is ochreous; there is a broad dull crimson dorsal line containing a central black bar on each segment; two or three rows of conspicuous black warts emitting short black bristles, and a very indistinct greyish lateral line. Robert Hoare pointed out that white stripe along the back of the larva helps camouflage it as it resembles the leaf vein on the leaves on some of its host plants. Hudson described the adult of the species as follows:

The expansion of the wings is hardly an inch. All the wings arc pale yellow with a variable number of fine jagged reddish-brown transverse lines, which are usually most distinct towards the termen. The fore-wings have a broad band of reddish-brown along the costal edge; a blackish dot above the middle just touching the costal band, and a small brown mark near the apex. The hind-wings have a minute black dot a little above the middle. The adult moths are variable in both colour intensity and pattern.

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in both the North and South Islands. It is regarded as being locally common.

The eggs of this species are greenish in colour and hatch after approximately two weeks. Larvae are active and feed on the leaves and seeds of their host plants during the New Zealand spring and summer. The larvae pupate amongst dead leaves with the pupa being enclosed in a delicate silken cocoon. Adults have been observed on the wing all year but can be seen most commonly from November until February. The adults are nocturnal, are attracted to light and have been collected via light traps.