Cosmodes elegans

This species was first described by Edward Donovan in 1805 under the name Phalaena elegans.[2][1] Robert Hoare was unable to locate the type specimen for his 2017 publication.[1]

The illustration that accompanied the original description of this species.

Donovan originally described the species as follows:

First wings ferruginous, with three greenish spots edged with silver, the anterior one hooked : posterior wings reddish.[2]

The caterpillars of this species grow to a length of about 3 cm and are bright green with dark spiracles on both sides.[3] Adult moths are brown with sinuous green markings on their forewings, white hindwings fading to light brown along the edges, and a hairy crest just behind their heads.[4] The adult's wingspan is about 40 mm.[5] The green blotched moth has a distinctively shaped forewing and this and the characteristic patterns on its forewings ensures that this species is unlikely to be confused with any other.[1]

The green blotched moth is native to Australia, although it sometimes arrives in New Zealand as a migrant or vagrant during the summer establishing temporary colonies.[1] The adult moth lives in forest clearings from January to May and this is where its larvae cocoons among the foliage of its preferred food source.[1][6]

This species is on the wing throughout the year but in New Zealand is more frequently recorded during the months of February to April.[1]

The larvae feed on Lobelia species, Verbena species and Wahlenbergia species.[1]