Family Geometridae | ||
Poecilasthena schistaria, the kanuka looper, is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in New Zealand.
The wings vary from very pale brown to rather dull purplish-brown with numerous jagged, darker transverse lines. Adults are on wing from October to April.
The larvae feed on Leptospermum scoparium. They are dull green with a white more or less black-edged band down each side. There is a thin central white line on the back, and a narrow yellow line half-way between it and the lateral white band. The head is dull green. Pupation takes place in a slight cocoon below the surface of the earth.
References
Poecilasthena schistaria Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA