Green Ghost Moth

Of the more than 1500 different moths in New Zealand, the biggest and most spectacular is the puriri or ghost moth of the North Island. It has pale velvety green markings that give it a ghost-like appearance. The puriri moth (Anetus virescens) is New Zealand’s largest forest moth, with a wingspan of up to 15 centimetres. As its name indicates, the puriri moth caterpillar lives in puriri trees, but it also lives in beech trees, putaputaweta and wineberry. Puriri moth caterpillars dig burrows up to 30-centimetres long into a tree and feed on the wood… the caterpillar stage can last five years! When the adult moth finally emerges it lives for only a few nights, it cant eat so only survives long enough to breed… that’s if its lucky and not eaten by a hungry Morepork!

This is one of two watercolours Im working on right now.  Here’s a pic of my desk this morning… seriously need to have an office clean up.  Maybe this will make me get on to it!

Ill show you the monarch soon as she’s finished.

Today is also my Mum’s birthday, Happy Birthday Mum… Love you!