Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Anachloris
Species: A. subochraria
Binomial name: Anachloris subochraria
Synonyms: Aspilates subochraria, Camptogramma strangulate, Aspilates euboliaria, Camptogramma fuscinata
Common names: Golden Grass Carpet, Willowherb yellow.
Anachloris subochraria is a Geometridae species of moth found throughout New Zealand’s lowland swampy areas and tussock grasslands. It is also found on the Chatham Islands and in the southern regions of Australia.
These moths are active during November to April. They have a wingspan >30 mm. The wings are usually are ochreous-yellow but some are a tan colour. Each forewing’s inner margin has a dark quadrant patch. There is a dark band running across the forewing and a small dark dot half way up the forewing near the costa (outer edge).
The caterpillars are green. Newly hatched caterpillars are inclined to rest with their heads tucked under in an open spiral. Later on, they rest stretched out along or between stems.
In New Zealand, the caterpillars feed on the Epilobium species (Willowherbs) and on the naturalised weed Jacobaea vulgaris (Ragwort).
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
