Bug FAQTarata Looper
Xyridacma ustaria · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Tarata Looper is a moth that belongs to the Geometridae family. It is native and found only in New Zealand. The caterpillars have been recorded feeding on the plant Pittosporum tenuifolium.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
This species is a moth in the Geometridae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It has been observed in Paroa during February and also in the Canterbury region.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae have been found feeding on Pittosporum tenuifolium.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults have been recorded in February at Paroa.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The moth is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do Tarata Looper caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on Pittosporum tenuifolium.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is Tarata Looper found?
It is found only in New Zealand, with records from Paroa in February and the Canterbury region.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria
Pale BeautyCampaea perlataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Lace-border MothScopula limboundataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Riband WaveIdaea aversata
Yellow Shell MothCamptogramma bilineata
Large Maple Spanworm MothProchoerodes lineolaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xyridacma_ustaria
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.