Description
Flax looper moths have a wingspan between 35 and 38 millimetres. They are pale brown/white in colour. Caterpillars are initially green, changing to yellow with red stripes.
Larvae are nocturnal and hide at the base of the flax in dead, dry leaf material during the day. During the night, they feed on foliage, chewing strips on the undersides of the leaves. This causes the leaves to deteriorate.
Common native plant hosts
| Scientific names | Māori/common names |
|---|---|
| Phormium tenax, Phormium cookianum | Flax, harakeke, wharariki, kōrari, swamp flax, mountain flax |
Scientific names
Phormium tenax, Phormium cookianum
Māori/common names
Flax, harakeke, wharariki, kōrari, swamp flax,
mountain flax
mountain flax
Symptoms and damage
Feeding damage does not cause death of the plants but in large numbers can cause significant damage. Looper caterpillars feed nocturnally on the underside of young leaves. This makes the top of the leaf colourless, forming a window-type hole.
Prevention and control tips
- Bacillus thuringiensis.
- Insecticides for caterpillars with additional sticking agent
