Ichneutica moderata

Walker described this species as follows:

Male and female. Dark cinereous, cinereous beneath. Palpi slightly ascending, extending a little beyond the head; second joint densely pilose; third elongate-conical, not more than one-third of the length of the second. Antennae of the male pubescent, setulose. Abdomen of the male extending rather beyond the hind wings; apical tuft subquadrate. Fore wings with four irregular lines composed of black lunules; first and second lines on the inner side of a diffuse blackish band; third and fourth beyond the band, undulating, approximate to each other; submarginal line cinereous, dentate, continued in the male to the exterior border; marginal lunules black. Hind wings brown; fringe pale cinereous. Length of the body 8 — 9 lines; of the wings 19 — 20 lines. The adult male of the species has a wingspan of between 33 and 38 mm, the female has a wingspan of between 36 and 43 mm. This species is undistinguished, but can be differentiated from other similar appearing species as both the male and female have unmarked creamy white fringes on their hindwings. Hudson described the larvae of the species as follows:

The length of the full-grown larva is about 1+3⁄8 (35 mm.), stout, cylindrical, slightly tapering at each end; back pale dull reddish; sides dull greenish, speckled and suffused with blackish; underside clear, pale, dull green. …

This species is found throughout New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands, with the only exception being the northern part of the North Island, that is Bay of Plenty north.

Adults of this species are on the wing from October to April. They are attracted to light and have been collected via a mercury vapour light trap.

The larvae of this species likely feed on low growing herbaceous plants. However, I. moderata larvae are recorded as being associated with Raoulia particularly the species R. australis, R. subulata and R. beauverdii as well as Crassula manaia. Larvae have also been reared on Bellis perennis. Larvae create tunnels lined with silk amongst the roots of the species' host plants. Pupa are enclosed in an insubstantial and easily damaged silken cocoon amongst the roots.

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