T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network


Moth (Brown Plume) Platyptilia falcatalis

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Suborder: Ditrysia
Infraorder: Apoditrysia
Superfamily: Pterophoroidea
Family: Pterophoridae
Genus: Platyptilia
Species: P. falcatali
Scientific name: Platyptilia falcatalis
Common name: Brown Plume Moth, purerehuhu

The brown plume moth host plant for its larva is koromiko (Hebe salicifolia & Hebe stricta) Adult size 25 mm.
The usual resting posture is with the wings extended laterally and narrowly rolled up. Often they resemble a piece of dried grass, and may pass unnoticed by potential predators even when resting in exposed situations in daylight.