Description
The kawakawa looper moth grows about 10 to 15 millimetres long and has a wingspan between 30 and 55 millimetres. Kawakawa looper moths vary in colour from a mottled yellow-brown to brown-black. They usually have a spot on each forewing.
Caterpillars can be 30 to 40 millimetres long and are mainly green or brown. A new caterpillar is green in colour and has dark or white stripes the length of its body. They position themselves on the leaf veins and lay as flat as possible to camouflage themselves. Caterpillars can drop from plants and hang by a silk thread.
Common native plant hosts
| Scientific names | Māori/common names |
|---|---|
| Aristotelia serrata | Wineberry, makomako |
| Carpodetus serratus | Putaputawētā, marbleleaf, piripiriwhata |
| Dodonaea viscosa | Akeake |
| Lophomyrtus bullata | Ramarama |
| Piper excelsum | Kawakawa, pepper tree |
| Pseudopanax arboreus | Five-finger, whauwhaupaku |
| Pseudowintera spp | Horopito, pepper tree |
| Sophora spp | Kōwhai |
Scientific names
Aristotelia serrata
Māori/common names
Wineberry, makomako
Scientific names
Carpodetus serratus
Māori/common names
Putaputawētā, marbleleaf, piripiriwhata
Scientific names
Dodonaea viscosa
Māori/common names
Akeake
Scientific names
Lophomyrtus bullata
Māori/common names
Ramarama
Scientific names
Piper excelsum
Māori/common names
Kawakawa, pepper tree
Scientific names
Pseudopanax arboreus
Māori/common names
Five-finger, whauwhaupaku
Scientific names
Pseudowintera spp
Māori/common names
Horopito, pepper tree
Scientific names
Sophora spp
Māori/common names
Kōwhai
Symptoms and damage
Caterpillars feed on young leaves usually making holes in the edges and centre. The leaf damage is mainly aesthetic and people harvesting kawakawa for rongoā would use the leaves with holes.
Prevention and control tips
In the nursery you may consider treating with chemical insecticide or product for caterpillars to prevent leaf damage if plants became unsaleable. In most circumstances treatment would not be required.
Image details
- Photo by Christopher Stephens – some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)