Eastern Tiger Moth

The larvae of this species are approximately 2.5 cm (0.98 in) long, black and very hairy. The hairs on the terminal segments are the longest and the shortest hairs are reddish-ochreous-brown. There is are blue dots around each segment except the second. Adults males are brightly coloured and diurnal, while females are buff coloured and extremely short winged. Butler described the species as follows:

primaries pale ochraceous, with the borders and veins rather broadly black, a submarginal transverse black line or stripe, or these wings might perhaps better be described as black, with an abbreviated basal dash, a cuneiform discoidal dash, an interno-median longitudinal streak, five subconfluent longitudinal discal dashes, and a submarginal series of small conical spots pale ochraceous; a basal subcostal carmine streak; secondaries bright ochreous, greyish on interno-median area; an oblique black spot on the discocellulars; outer border, to beyond the first median branch, broadly black, uniting with a large subanal marginal black spot, and intersected by an interrupted macular ochreous line close to the margin; fringe ochreous; body black, with sordid whitish fringes to the tegulae; abdomen with ochraceous borders; wings below ochreous with black discocellular spots; outer borders black, intersected by a series of ochreous dots; costal borders dark orange, the primaries with an i …

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is known from the eastern areas of the South Island.

The female of the species is semiapterious and remains within her cocoon for mating and egg laying. As a result of this, the population disbursal of the species is limited to the wanderings of the larvae. The male of the species is diurnal and is on the wing from December to March. Males are attracted to females by pheromones. Males of this species can be attracted to the scent of females of different species within their genus. Researchers have used females as lures to take advantage of this behaviour to detect males in new localities. The larvae hibernates during winter. Pupae cocoons are normally found beneath stones.