Bug FAQIchneutica propria
Ichneutica propria · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Ichneutica propria is a pale fawn-coloured moth with distinctive black markings on its thorax and forewings. It is endemic to New Zealand and lives in montane to alpine grasslands, where adults are on the wing from December to May.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The moth is pale fawn-coloured, with a slightly darker thorax that has a faint band of black dots, and its forewings show subtle black discal lines, a deep black basal stripe, a black discal stripe shaded brown, plus the usual outer and marginal black dots.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of about 31.5 to 39 mm, while females range from 30 to 36 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is very common throughout montane to alpine grasslands.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae have been raised on native grasses such as Poa cita and Festuca novae-zelandiae and will also feed on introduced grass species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults fly from December through mid-May and are attracted to light.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period extends from December to April, with occasional records into early-mid May.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
This species is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be mistaken for faded I. atristriga, but that species lacks the distinctive prothorax marking and the central black forewing stripe.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult Ichneutica propria active?
Adults are on the wing from December through May, with most records between December and April.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae eat?
Larvae feed on native grasses like Poa cita and Festuca novae-zelandiae and also on introduced grass species.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell it apart from similar moths?
Unlike faded I. atristriga, I. propria has a distinct black band on the prothorax and a central black stripe on the forewing.
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_propria
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.