About Ichneutica nullifera
Ichneutica nullifera was first described by Walker based on a male adult specimen. Walker described the male as pale fawn-coloured, with a very pale abdomen, serrated antennae, and forewings that have no marks other than an indistinct darker dot on each exterior vein. Its hindwings are very pale fawn-coloured and shining. Walker recorded body length as 10 lines and wing length as 24 lines. In 1928, Hudson described the species' larva in his book *The butterflies and moths of New Zealand*. The larva is very stout and bright yellowish-brown, considerably paler on the undersurface. Its dorsal line is faintly marked, while the subdorsal and lateral lines are dull brown, with a chain of elongate white spots beneath each line. The spiracles and the dorsal surface of the posterior larval segments are black, and numerous white dots are scattered across the entire larva. I. nullifera is a large moth species. Males have a wingspan of 53 to 67 mm, while females have a wingspan of 57 to 77 mm. The forewing colour of adult specimens can vary from deep fawn to dark grey. Among this species' close relatives, I. nobilia is the most similar in appearance, but I. nobilia can be distinguished by the deep greyish-blue sheen present on its forewings. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It has been recorded in Tongariro National Park, along the Wellington coast, and throughout the South Island. It prefers habitats where its host species grow well.
