About Ichneutica morosa
Butler originally described adult Ichneutica morosa in the following terms: It is related to Ichneutica lignana and belongs to the Ichneutica rurea group. The species is overall smoky-brown, with paler internal and disc areas on the forewings. Its ordinary spots are greyish, with black-edged white borders; the reniform spot extends over the base of the second median interspace, is streaked with blackish, and a blackish line runs backwards from it along the median vein. There is a black-edged white spot close to the base of the interno-median area, three such spots at equal distances along the costal margin, and three additional white costal dots beyond the cell. The ordinary lines are not visible. There is a discal series of black and white dots on the veins, followed by a series of ferruginous lunules with yellowish outer edges between the veins. Two dusky, somewhat triangular patches sit on the outer border, with black spots at the vein extremities on these patches. The fringe has black spots and is crossed by a central black line. The hindwings are shining smoky-brown; the fringe has a grey-edged yellow basal line and is silvery-white on the outer edge. The head and thorax are brown, crossed by bisinuated darker lines. The abdomen is shining greyish-brown; the anal segment is blackish at the base, with a lateral reddish-brown fringe. The underside of the body is pinky-whitish, the front of the pectus is pale purplish-brown, the knees are black, and the posterior tibiae are striped with black at the end. The venter has lateral black spots. The underside of the forewings is shining grey with cupreous reflections, has a whitish border, the costal border is crossed by grey lines towards the apex, there is a marginal series of black dots, and the fringe is paler than it is on the upper side of the wing. The underside of the hindwings is whitish with cupreous reflections, has a grey discocellular dot, a brown discal line, and a marginal series of black dots. The total wing expanse recorded in the original description is 1 inch 6 lines. For modern measurements, male adults of this species have a wingspan ranging from 32 to 40 mm, while female adults have a wingspan ranging from 34 to 38 mm. This species also has a grey colour morph, with a grey and mottled brown head and thorax, and forewings ranging from pale greyish ochreous to deep brown, suffused with grey. I. morosa can be confused with the related species I. mustulenta and I. lignana. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the southern parts of the North Island and throughout the South Island. I. morosa is common in the drier eastern areas of both the South and North Island, occurring across a range of altitudes from lowlands up to the alpine zone above 900 m. It is also present in Fiordland, where rainfall is higher. I. morosa is not found in the range of its close relative I. mustulenta, which is the northern North Island.
