Green Coprosma Carpet

Hudson described the larvae and pupae of this species as follows:

The very handsome larva, which feeds on Coprosma rotundifolia, during the summer months, is about 1 inch in length, moderately slender, slightly flattened and of almost uniform thickness; very bright green much paler on the ventral surface; there is a conspicuous crimson lateral line sometimes edged with white and the prolegs are also crimson; the segmental divisions are marked in yellow, and there are a few isolated black bristles. Younger larvae have the ground colour dull greyish-green, whitish underneath, and the crimson stripe is much fainter than in the full-grown larva.

The pupa is enclosed in a fragile cocoon composed of several leaves joined together with silk and usually situated on the surface of the ground. When first describing this species and naming it Cidaria callichlora, Butler said the following:

Nearly allied to the European C. …

A. callichlora is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on both the North and South Islands.

The adult of the species is on the wing from November to March. Adults have been observed resting on mossy tree-trunks with forewings folded back and their abdomen pointing upwards. Hudson pointed out that this resting position along with the crests on the thorax ensures the insect mimics a patch of moss. Hudson hypothesised that this species spends the winter months either hibernating as full grown larvae or as a pupa.