OECOPHORIDAE: Concealer Moths ⁴

Trachypepla festiva (Philpott, 1930). Endemic.

This moth is one of several that closely mimic bird droppings, though the forewing pattern and tufts of raised scales also provide camouflage against a patchwork background of lichens.

Habitat, seasonality and behaviour ⁴

Native forest. Adults appear from November to February. They fly at night and are attracted to light.

Life history ⁴

Larvae feed on the pendulous old man’s beard moss, pupating in the feeding place.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Steer
2. (c) Neville Hudson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Neville Hudson
3. George Vernon Hudson , no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig_26_MA_I437920_TePapa_Plate-LIX-A-supplement_full_(cropped).jpg
4. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist NZ taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants

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