Phil Bendle Collection:Cosmodes elegans (Green blotched moth)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Cosmodes
Species: C. elegans
Binomial name: Cosmodes elegans
Synonyms: Phalaena elegans
Common name: Green blotched moth

Cosmodes elegans is a native moth of Australia which migrates to New Zealand during summer. Due to its migratory nature, it is more common some years than others. 
It can be attracted to mercury vapour light in native forest clearings in January to May. It has been recorded as far south as Christchurch. It has a wingspan is about 40 mm. and a forewing length of >16mm
The larvae feed on Australia’s Lobelia, Verbena and Wahlenbergia species.

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Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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