About Cleora scriptaria (Walker, 1860)
As an adult, the Kawakawa looper moth (Cleora scriptaria) shows considerable variation in both color and size. While its wing coloration has many forms, the most common variant has yellow-brown mottled forewings. Other variants have large yellow patches on darker-colored wings. Both males and females have unique spots in the center of their wings, which can be black, white, or cream. Like most moths, the sexes can be distinguished by their antennae: males have feathered antennae, while females have filiform antennae. Only males have feathered antennae, and female antennae are shorter and lack feathering, which makes gender identification straightforward. When the moth is feeding, its antennae are held uncoiled, a feature that helps distinguish it from related species. Adult moths have bodies 10 to 15 mm long, with a wingspan ranging from 30 to 55 mm. Newly hatched caterpillars are light green, and transition to light brown as they mature. Cleora scriptaria is endemic to New Zealand, and is fairly common throughout the country. Kawakawa looper moths are generally found near or on kawakawa and other host plants. Adult moths hide in leaf litter or on tree trunks, where their mottled patterning provides effective camouflage. Caterpillars typically stay on host plant leaves, and leave distinctive circular holes in the leaves as they feed.
