Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Flax looper caterpillar adult

Orthoclydon praefectata Walker


Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae

Size range

  • Wingspan of moth 35–38 mm

Distribution

  • Native species

Life History

  • Looper caterpillar feeds nocturnally on the undersurface of young flax  (Phormuim tenax) leaves, leaving the top colourless layer, forming a ‘window’
  • In older leaves the window often breaks leaving a hole.
  • Caterpillars green at first, later opaque yellow with red stripes.

Additional images