Puriri Moth vs Rhetenor Blue Morpho
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Puriri Moth | Rhetenor Blue Morpho |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aenetus virescens | Morpho rhetenor |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Hepialidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 100-150 mm wingspan | 120-140 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand - North Island) | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Rhetenor Blue Morpho
A strikingly vivid Morpho species known for its intensely saturated metallic blue coloring, considered by many to be the most brilliant of all Morpho species. The underwings are plain brown, lacking the prominent eyespots of related species. Males are frequently seen gliding along river corridors in lowland rainforests.
Did You Know?
Its wings reflect nearly 70% of blue light, making it one of the most reflective biological surfaces known.