Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
(unranked): Macrolepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Arctiidae
Subfamily : Arctiinae
Tribe: Arctiini
Genus: Utetheisa
Species: U. pulchelloides
Binomial name: Utetheisa pulchelloides
Common name: Crimson Speckled Footman
This heliotrope Moth is found in the Indo-Australian region including Borneo, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua, Seychelles and most of Australia. Adults undertake extensive and frequent migratory flights and can reach the most remote oceanic islands, and is thought to migrate to New Zealand. The larvae feed on Argusia argentea, Echium plantagineum, Heliotropium arborescens and Myosotis arvensis.
This day flying moth is found throughout New Zealand in summer but but rarely survives the winter temperatures here.
http://www.ento.org.nz/nzentomologist/free_issues/NZEnto06_2_1976/Volume%206-2-197-198.pdf
