Puriri Moth vs Madeiran Large White
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Puriri Moth | Madeiran Large White |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aenetus virescens | Pieris brassicae wollastoni |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Hepialidae | Pieridae |
| Size | 100-150 mm wingspan | 5-6 cm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand - North Island) | Portugal |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Puriri Moth
New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan up to 150 mm. The caterpillars bore into the trunks of native trees, particularly puriri and putaputaweta, creating characteristic U-shaped tunnels. Adults have no functional mouthparts and do not feed.
Did You Know?
Puriri moth larvae can spend up to six years boring through living tree trunks before pupating and emerging as adults that live only a few days.
Madeiran Large White
A subspecies of the large white butterfly that was endemic to Madeira. It has not been reliably recorded since the 1970s and may be extinct.
Did You Know?
Pesticide use and introduced parasitoid wasps are believed to have driven it to the brink of extinction.