Moth (Common Carpet) Epyaxa rosearia
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Epyaxa
Species: E. rosearia
Binomial name: Epyaxa rosearia
Common name: Common Carpet
Epyaxa rosearia is a common New Zealand native looper and is a moth of the Geometridae family. Like many geometrids it has slender abdomens and broad wings which are usually held flat with the hind wings visible.
As such it appears rather butterfly-like but in most respects they are typical moths: they fly at night all year round.
They tend to blend in to the background, often with intricate, wavy patterns on their wings.
Not much is known about the species, but the larvae seem to feed on the leaves of Trifolium caucasicum (Red clover), nasturtium and marigolds.
this moth was 15 mm wide
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