Kanuka looper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kanuka looper |
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The kanuka looper (scientific name: Poecilasthena schistaria) is a small moth that belongs to the Geometridae family. You can find this interesting moth only in New Zealand.
About the Kanuka Looper Moth
The kanuka looper moth has wings that can be different shades. They might be a very light brown or a dull purplish-brown. Look closely, and you'll see many jagged, darker lines across their wings. These lines help them blend in with their surroundings. Adult moths are usually seen flying around from October all the way through to April.
Life Cycle of the Kanuka Looper
The young kanuka looper, called a larva or caterpillar, has a special diet. It loves to munch on the leaves of the Leptospermum scoparium plant, which is also known as mānuka or kānuka.
These caterpillars are dull green. They have a white band along each side, which sometimes has a black edge. You might also spot a thin white line running down the middle of their back. Halfway between this central line and the side band, there's a narrow yellow line. Their head is also a dull green color, helping them stay camouflaged among the leaves.
When a caterpillar is ready to change into a moth, it goes through a process called pupation. It forms a small, soft cocoon just below the surface of the earth. Inside this cocoon, it transforms into an adult moth.
