Bug FAQCapua semiferana
Capua semiferana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Tortricidae
The moth's wings are about five-eighths of an inch long, give or take a little. It lives throughout New Zealand and is found everywhere in the country. Adults fly in late afternoon sunlight and are also attracted to lights at night.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Fore-wings range from pale grey-ochre to light reddish-brown with tiny black spots along the front edge and back edge, an irregular brown patch near the base often edged in black, a central brown band that may fade toward the back, sometimes a large blackish oval on the front edge with a pale grey centre, a small brown spot near the outer edge, and ochre-coloured fringe that lightens near the tornus.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wing span varies from just under to just over five-eighths of an inch.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs throughout the country.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are seen flying in late afternoon sunshine and are also drawn to lights at night.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native only to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
The moth is highly variable in size, colour and the intensity of its markings.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What size is Capua semiferana?
Its wings are roughly five-eighths of an inch long, give or take a little.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this moth in New Zealand?
It is found throughout the whole country because it is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
When are the adults active?
Adults fly in late afternoon sunlight and are also attracted to light at night.
Source: Wikipedia
How variable does this moth look?
It varies a lot in size, colour and how strong the wing markings are.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Tortricidae)
Oblique-banded Leafroller MothChoristoneura rosaceanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden TortrixClepsis peritanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common MarbleSyricoris lacunanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Red-banded Leafroller MothArgyrotaenia velutinanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Light Brown Apple MothEpiphyas postvittanaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Filbertworm MothCydia latiferreanaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capua_semiferana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.