Puriri moth
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| Puriri moth | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Aenetus virescens (Doubleday) |
The puriri moth, Aenetus virescens, is a moth of the family Hepialidae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. It is New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan of up to 150 mm.
Puriri moth caterpillars start life living in a bracket fungus. When older they tunnel into the trunk of a large tree (up to 60 tree species are suitable), and feed on the wound tissue around the tunnel entrance which is concealed by a silken "tent". after about five years, pupation occurs. Adult moths do not feed (and in fact have no mouths) and live only for a few days. They are active at night.
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