Orange Astelia Wainscot

The eggs of this species are spherical in shape though slightly flattened both above and below. Eggs can range in colour from light blue green, to pale brown with a dark central spot to black, again, with a darker spot in the centre. When hatched the larvae are approximately 3mm in length and are coloured off white. When fully grown the larvae are ocherous in colour with a pink flush with line markings but when ready to pupate these markings fade and the larvae take on a light golden hue with a rosy tinge to its rear segments. The larvae can reach a length of approximately 48mm. Pupa are deep wine coloured. Fereday first described the adult male holotype specimen of this species as follows:

Head and thorax dark pinkish-ochreous-yellow, darkest in front; abdomen paler and greyish at base. Primaries above dark pinkish cedar colour, a dash of ochreous-yellow occupying the areolet between the submedian nervure and the third median nervule, the dash being very bright at the base and fading towards the posterior angle; a dash of the same colour commencing broadly in the middle of the discoidal cell, extending along the areolet between the first discoidal and lower subcostal nervules, and narrowing towards and vanishing near the exterior margin; a similar dash extending along two-thirds of the costa from the base of the wing; cilia, basal half ochreous-yellow, exterior whitish-ochre …

I. purdii is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. It can be found at an altitude range of between sea level and 1200m although it is more commonly found in the south of the country and at the higher end of the altitude limit.

When disturbed the larvae of this species drops and rolls into a ball. Adult moths are on the wing from October to March and are attracted to light. They have been collected via a mercury vapour light trap.

The eggs are laid in patches. Once hatched the larvae are nocturnal, spending the day sheltering in the middle of their host plant. The pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon with this being constructed below the soil, amongst debris or alternatively within a hollow stick. The adult moths are on the wing from October to March. Hudson was of the opinion that the perfect adult was obtained in December until March.

== References ==