Puriri Moth

Did you know there are over 1500 different Moths in New Zealand?! Well, the biggest (and I think the most beautiful!), the Puriri Moth,  turned up at school today.

The Puriri Moth  has a wingspan of up to 15cm. It lives in the forest - especially in the Puriri Trees. As a caterpillar, it feeds on the wood of the tree and digs a burrow up to 30cm long. This caterpillar stage lasts about 5 years. When the adult moth finally emerges, on warm evenings from September-November, it only lives for a couple of nights to breed. This one here was found in a rather poor condition on the footpath outside school so (in the name of science!) we decided to keep it to show everyone. The Puriri Moth cant eat because it doesnt have a mouth.