Bug FAQGreen Carpet Owlet
Ichneutica plena · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have a wingspan of about 31-40 mm and the caterpillars grow to roughly 1.5 inches long. They are found throughout New Zealand, are attracted to light, and fly from late August to May. The moth’s forewings are partly black-shaded with pale green orbicular and reniform marks, and the male is green above and cinereous below.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Males are green on top and cinereous underneath. Forewings have black-shaded areas, denticulated transverse black lines, large pale-green orbicular and reniform spots with black borders, and black marginal points.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Male wingspan ranges from 31.5 to 39 mm; female wingspan ranges from 31 to 40 mm. The larva grows to about 1½ inches long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs across the North, South and Stewart Islands of New Zealand. Adults are attracted to light and are often caught in mercury-vapour light traps.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on herbaceous plants such as Fuchsia excorticata, Coprosma species, garden fuchsia, and also on apples.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The caterpillars consume a variety of herbaceous plants and apples during their development.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from late August through May.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is variable in appearance and can be confused with its close relatives I. peridotea and I. insignis.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae eat?
They feed on Fuchsia excorticata, Coprosma species, garden fuchsia, and apples.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It is widespread across New Zealand’s North, South and Stewart Islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichneutica_plena
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.