Bug FAQIchneutica morosa
Ichneutica morosa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The adult male has a wingspan of about 32 to 40 mm and the female 34 to 38 mm; the wing length is roughly 1 inch 6 lines. It lives throughout the drier eastern parts of both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, from lowlands up to alpine zones above 900 m, and also occurs in wetter Fiordland. Larvae feed on native Poa astonii and other Poa grasses, while adults visit night-time blossoms such as white rata flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The moth is smoky-brown with paler internal and disc areas on the forewings, and a grey colour morph exists with a grey-brown head and thorax and forewings ranging from pale grey-ochreous to deep brown, all suffused with grey.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of 32 to 40 mm; females 34 to 38 mm. The wing expanse is about 1 inch 6 lines.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Common in the eastern drier regions of both islands, from lowlands to alpine zones above 900 m. Also found in the higher-rainfall area of Fiordland.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on Poa astonii and other Poa species, including introduced grasses. Adults feed on night-time blossoms, such as white rata flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species’ life history is poorly documented, including its larval host plants.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from November through April. They are attracted to light and are often caught with mercury-vapour light traps.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is allied to X. lignana and belongs to the X. rurea group.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult Ichneutica morosa moths active?
Adults fly from November to April and are attracted to light traps.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae of Ichneutica morosa eat?
Larvae feed on the native grass Poa astonii and other Poa species, including introduced grasses.
Source: Wikipedia
What do adult Ichneutica morosa moths feed on?
Adults feed on night-time blossoms such as white rata flowers.
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_morosa
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 2026-10-23.