Ruud Kleinpaste: Massive Gorgeous Moths

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

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2d ago 6:00

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At this time of the year there’s only one place I’d love to be: The North Island.

These are the largest moths in Aotearoa. They are also very nicely coloured – lots of green and yellow as well as white and orange patches. Their wingspan is up to 150mm, and they’re a noisy flyer at night.

Females are often larger than males – they lay masses of eggs as they fly through the forest at night.

The relatively small caterpillars hatch on the forest floor and commence eating dead wood, infected by fungal material.

The funny thing is that these very young caterpillars only move around for 6 to 12 months, after which they move up tree trunks to find out what the wood tastes like… Once they’ve found a suitable tree with nice bark and yummy phloem and xylem, they will start to build a long-term tunnel system in which they can live 5, 6, or even 7 years.

It’s a 7-shaped tunnel that goes into the trunk and down (yes, the shape of a 7!), and it lives there for 7 years.

The puriri moth “homes” are always protected by a patch of silk that protects the dwelling from enemies such as centipedes and even small birds. The silk is tough enough to keep the predators out.

Caterpillars chew on the re-growth of the Cambium at night and bit by bit, which is why it takes so long for these larvae to become “mature”.

Once they have reached their final “instar” (size) they turn into a chrysalis (a “Pupa”) that finally becomes that huge green ghost moth that we see flying at this time of the year.

The adult moths (which grew to that size in 7 years!) have just 24 hours (and at most to 48 hours), to do all their loving, living, and shopping.

They look spectacular and full of protein and eggs….

Which is why Ruru are keen on hunting these insects

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